| While online education has become a popular | | | | The Disadvantage of Online School |
| option among students, there are many distinct | | | | 1. Less instructor face-time: Most online classes |
| differences between the online study and | | | | are conducted asynchronously where students |
| traditional classroom-based learning. For certain | | | | can logon at any time to get the learning |
| students, they may fit well into online learning | | | | materials or attending pre-record video sessions. |
| format; for others, a campus-based school's | | | | Moreover, most communications are done in text |
| program is a better fitting option. Before you | | | | or written format. Therefore, the online students |
| decide which education option to choose for, | | | | have very less face-time with the instructors in |
| comparing the advantages and disadvantages of | | | | online learning environment. For certain students, |
| online learning will help you to decide the best | | | | face-to-face interaction with instructor is |
| education option to achieve your goals. | | | | important to help them learn effectively. |
| The Advantages of Online School | | | | 2. Technology requirements: Online learning |
| 1. Convenient: Students are not needed to follow | | | | system usually requires modern computer with |
| a fixed schedule like what the campus-based | | | | special hardware requirements. Students may |
| students do. They can logon to the online classes | | | | need to upgrade their computer to meet the |
| at any time they are convenient for, directly | | | | online learning software requirements. Moreover, |
| from their home or any place with internet | | | | students need to have some proficiency in using |
| connection. | | | | computers if they want to study online. |
| 2. Flexible self-paced study: One of key features | | | | 3. Less social interaction: Most often, online |
| of online education is the flexibility of study. Since | | | | students communicate with peers and instructors |
| the class times are not set and most online | | | | through text chat, forum, email and sometimes |
| classes are conducted asynchronously, students | | | | using webcam for video communication. This |
| can choose to attend the classes at any time and | | | | means there will be less physical classroom |
| proceed through their study at their own rate. | | | | interactions. Students who are weak in social |
| 3. Availability: The quality of online degrees has | | | | interaction don't have opportunities to train |
| been increased recent years with recognized | | | | themselves like what they can experience in |
| accreditation process. Students who hold online | | | | physical classroom. |
| degrees have no problem to compete with | | | | 4. Limited & non-instant support: Online |
| traditional degree holders to secure rewarding | | | | students are required to take their own initiative in |
| careers in job market. | | | | completing assignments, projects and reports. |
| 4. Cost saving: Online degree programs are usually | | | | There will be nobody to look at their back and |
| cheaper than the traditional school programs. | | | | push them to meet the deadlines. When the |
| Besides the cheaper tuition fees, online students | | | | students need supports from schools, they may |
| will save some money with downloadable learning | | | | need to post questions at the message board or |
| materials, instead of purchasing the printed | | | | send email to instructors for helps whenever they |
| reference books. Moreover, learning online involves | | | | face difficulties in their study; then they need to |
| zero traveling cost. | | | | wait for responses which may take some times. |
| 5. Accessibility & no interruption: Students are | | | | Summary |
| able to attend online classes regardless where | | | | There are many distinct differences between the |
| they are as long as they can access to internet. | | | | online study and traditional classroom-based |
| The students can choose the place they like to | | | | learning. You should compare the advantages and |
| study, either at their room, internet cafe or | | | | disadvantages of online schools before you decide |
| library. They can study alone in front of computer | | | | which education option fit you better in achieving |
| with no interruptions from surrounding noise. | | | | your goals. |