Distance Education or Traditional Education
“The central task of education is to implant a will and facility for learning,” as quoted by Eric Hoffer. We as a part of society are all learners of something or the other. The fundamental purpose of our life is to achieve education of any manner, either distance or traditional. Distance education is simply education attained from remoteness due to lack of time or facilities to travel to a university to study, and by the use of technology. Whereas traditional education is learning that takes place in a classroom face-to-face with the instructor. Statistics show that both methods of instructions have been effective among the learners, as they provide complete guidance as per the pupils’ needs. However, distance education has gained popularity among students because of its expediency, flexibility and lower cost of expenditure. The progressions in the field of technology have allowed many to take advantage of the distance learning programs, and hence improve their positions in jobs.
The most important benefit of distance learning is the flexibility in the time. This especially results in facilitating people who have nine-to-five jobs, which they cannot afford to resign, mothers who have young children to look after, people from other countries who want to earn foreign degrees in order to get paid high amounts of salary and so on. With these people in mind one can clearly see that flexibility in time is their number one requirement as they have other responsibilities to fulfill. They can study at their own suitable times and complete the required tasks and listen to or view the recorded instructions provided in their profiles. On the other hand in traditional education system the class timings should be followed strictly, which is not possible for many learners.
Many students are independent learners who prefer to work in a peaceful and silent place in order to develop their understanding. Thereupon, they can have their tranquility and quietness either in the library or more importantly in the comfort of their homes if they opt to study in a distance learning programs. Since they are more serious learners they can work accordingly and avoid the hassles of the in class milieu.
Online curriculums are planned in a way that they automatically boost yearn for studying in the learners as they wish to flourish in life and also enhance earnings. The systematic procedures planned and executed by the instructor forces one to study hard and consequently, pass the tests with flying colors. Since the pupils are asked to participate in online discussions or work together, the possibilities of irrelevant conversations is less as everything is written down, whereas in face-to-face instructions seriousness is less likely to occur because students do talk irrelevant sometimes.
Having enough money to pay for educational costs is rare among students; hence mostly they have to apply for loans in order to pay for their university fees during the term of studies. Distance education costs less than the traditional education as you do not have to pay large amounts of money for the cost of living in the dorms and rooms. As a result the learners save money by staying at home and can work full time to provide cash for their tuition fee. Even if they require a loan initially to pay fees it will not be a very large and not payable amount.
Distance Education helps save time and energy, which is consumed while travelling from home to the university, since you can study from anywhere anytime. A lot of students do not get accommodation near or in the dorms of the universities, or are not able to afford it, hence they have to travel long distances; either in buses, subways or by walking, in order to reach their classes on time. Taking these circumstances into consideration; students studying in virtual universities save their energies and utilize it for working on their assignments for their courses.
Given these points of the benefits of distance education why would one not avail this opportunity and facility of the modern world. Studying from the luxury of our homes and at our own suitable times and routines can be done only by doing an online course. Distance learning programs have not only benefitted the full time workers but most importantly the stay at home moms who wish to resume a carrier once their children grow up and start school. Statistics say that there is no difference in the results of test scores of students in distant learning programs and the traditional face-to-face education; hence one should not be discouraged for not getting a high paying job after studying online. Distance education is well recognized and accepted by the employers around the world.
(2012). What are the Advantages of Distance Learning Vs Traditional Learning. How to E-D-U. Retrieved from:< http://howtoedu.org/online-education/what-are-the-advantages-of-distance-learning-vs-traditional-learning/>
Tucker, Shelia. (2001). Distance Education: Better, Worse, Or As Good As Traditional Education?. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, Volume IV. Retrieved from: < http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter44/tucker44.html>
