Online classes vs.

Traditional classes

Arlene Morales
Literature Review: Online classes vs. Traditional classes
University of Texas at El Paso

Online classes vs. Traditional classes

Abstract
The choice of enrolling within an online course or a regular face-to-face course is highly
common within most degrees in todays 21st century. Online courses began to be available as a
choice for students back in 1987. However, even though they have broadened within time some
students might still prefer traditional classes for specific reasons that are to be discussed
throughout this paper. To some people online courses are immensely frowned upon simply
because of the lack of information the professor shares through the curriculum or the lack of
skills from the student. You need certain skills in order to be successful in an online course but
you also gain a lot throughout the process of learning in one. Money, of course, plays a huge role
in the decision making. Students intend to enroll in online courses because they are much
cheaper than regular classes. Be that as it may, the credibility behind it all is what truly matters in
the end.

Online classes vs. Traditional classes

What is the percentage of online learners vs. regular class learners today? And how has it
changed through time?
The percentage of online learners vs. traditional face-to-face learners is 45% to 55% and
has only increased over time. Today, civilization is very dependent upon various types of
technology through their everyday lives. With technology growing faster consequently, online
learning does as well. Back when online learning began in the 90s it was very tough to actually
get a good job because a majority of employers did not see an online degree as not only not
equally credible opposed to traditional classes but not credible at all. The very first online
degrees begun to be accessible in 1995 and the first colleges to distribute them were The
University of Phoenix and Kaplan College.
Although 78% of every 1,000 students agree that it is easier to learn in a classroom, today
most universities provide the choice of enrolling into online classes. Many universities have
been quick to sign up with outside providers to offer massive open online courses, known as
MOOCs, either as stand-alone courses or in a hybrid format, with the online materials
supplemented by a local faculty member. While they portray their online offerings as
exploratory, many administrators hope the courses will help them expand their reach, rein in
tuition and offer better instruction (Online Classes Fuel a Campus Debate, 2013). Back then
students were intrigued with online courses because of the simple fact that they were based on
essays and class work only and no tests whatsoever.
Another thing that has grown within offered online courses would be their graduation
rates. As those graduation rates went up, the credibility of online graduates increased as well.
However even if they are credible most proprietors will choose employees that graduated from

Online classes vs. Traditional classes

traditional class degrees over online degrees 3 out of 4 times. Whether students are engaged in
online courses or not, technology runs a huge factor in their college careers. Some face-to-face
classes require E-books now-a-days (Electronic books) that can only be bought and accessed
online.
Furthermore students also need access to the internet in order to check blackboard for due
or upcoming assignments and obviously in order to contact their professors considering you
cannot just call them up at any time of the day. It is also a necessity for teachers to have access to
the internet as well in order to communicate with their students and post updates corresponding
to grades or upcoming assignments. Laptops are the most commonly owned device among
students landing at a total of 85 percent. As technology dilates as does opportunities among
learning. Eventually there will be online courses designed for specific employers and technical
jobs as well; there is absolutely no telling how far distance learning will go (The Rapid Growth
of Online Learning at Colleges, 2014) There is already so many jobs out there that focus on or
require certain types of online skills.
With online classes surely prevailing through education, possibilities for students are only
becoming bigger. Entire college programs can now be fully taken online or as most students like
do so, one online class a semester along with face-to-face classes. Some classes are also provided
in both ways with meeting once a week and the greater part of the class being conducted through
a computer until the next weeks meeting. There really is no telling how far distance learning
will go considering some high schools are now also taking upon practicing online courses. This
being started in high school with students who had to retake a course they have failed in online
only courses that are specifically meant for credit recovery.

Online classes vs. Traditional classes

In what ways does being in online courses affect your social skills?
Learning is the study and practice of enhancing and enhanced skills. Some people might
think that in order undertake full grasp within a course being taken it must be taken inside a
classroom with other students and a teacher. Others might disagree that it can be done simply
through a computer screen and an instructor who conducts a class online. However, both require
certain skills in order to succeed throughout the course. The classroom is one such environment
children must learn to navigate. Successful learning requires students to interact closely with
teachers and peers. In addition to their general importance for daily interaction, social skills can
have a big impact on a childs ability to succeed in an academic setting. The classroom becomes
both a training ground for development of social skills and an arena in which those skills are put
to use (Social Skills and Academic Achievement, 2011). Online learning is seen to effect social
skills because it is so isolated. But it is not entirely isolated; some online learners like to look at it
as being isolated together. This is actually very true on its own.
Being in college builds a student into becoming independent nonetheless. Online courses
are especially known for doing this. Traditional courses do so by simply giving the students the
advantage of skipping class whenever they want (depending on the professor). But being
enrolled in an online class consists of doing and handling everything on your own. You must
make your schedule flexible enough for you to have time to take time understanding the material,
studying the material, doing the assignment, and still be able to have enough time leftover just in
case you might have further questions regarding the assignment that can fit into your professors
time answering them for you as well, and lets not forget follow up questions.

Online classes vs. Traditional classes

Online classes also make it easier to adapt to bad behaviors, such as cheating. In
addition to lax regulations, a recent Ohio university study found that students of online courses
tend to cheat more often, at least at the college level (Digital Learning Enrollment Triples: U.S.
Department of Education, 2011). This is more than likely to occur because of how easy it is to
simply just open up a new tab to a search engine and have an answer within a matter of seconds.
Back when online courses barely began, a student was able to get through the whole course by
cheating. Now-a-days most online quizzes are timed for that exact reason and every courses
final must be taken in an actual classroom.
A learning environment has everything to do with effectiveness towards a student. Most
students will agree to not paying attention to a lecture as much while being in an auditorium
class as compared to being in a class with only 20 classmates. While other students might
comprehend material way better while being in the comfort of their own living room in solemn
quietness within their own time intervals. Another bad behavior online courses creates would be
laziness. Although most college students engaged in online classes do so in order to maintain a
certain lifestyle that involves working and family as well, others might only sign up in order to
approach the class work whenever they want.
The fact that they dont have to go to class at a certain time, in a specific place makes it
all the much able to slack off and potentially fall behind in their classes. Education should always
be seen as a shared value system, therefore online courses are not and should not be seen upon
society as the end of a student-teacher relationship but yet as the beginning of a new style of
communication through a teacher and a student.

Online classes vs. Traditional classes

Why are online courses frowned upon?
Online courses can be frowned upon by different communities for different reasons. They
are mainly frowned upon in the business world. When being hired there are many skills as well
as background that is taken into consideration about the applicant. And even though online
learning has expanded in tremendous ways, there are still many businesses that would not give
you the time of day and especially not an interview if they read online degree amongst your
resume. However, there are ways around that problem. Your resume is all about marketing
yourself as the best candidate for the position. If you are applying for positions that require you
to work independently, you can point out that you studied for 2 to 4 years independently. This
shows that you have organizational skills and are the type to commit and perform under
pressure. (How Does an Online College Degree Look on a Resume, 2014). Online learning has
its disadvantages when being introduced into to work world, but there is ways of spotlighting
them as advantages to those who might not see them as strong. While applying for a job one
should always want to be seen as the most competitive
Online classes are also very frowned upon because of the lack of interaction. Not only are
students isolated through not meeting up in a classroom, but some online classes are even
structured to just be a single student and a professor, no other peers within the system. This
opens a whole new window of student-teacher communication. After all, communication is key
especially in these circumstances. For this main reason, hybrid classes are much better than
online classes. Hybrid classes consist of meeting up in person and online, students are able to
interact virtually and face-to-face which makes understanding of criteria more functional.and
keeps students from getting lost throughout.

Online classes vs. Traditional classes

Most recruiters search for the best credibility. A majority of those recruiters also refuse to
see the authority behind online courses because of its old reputation. Online classes should only
be frowned upon because of for-profits only. Surveys given to employers show that 75 percent
of recruiters embrace online credentials and the remaining 25 percent do not. The key to finding
a recruiter to embrace your online degree rather than shame it is to highlight what it takes for a
student to earn a degree online (Still a Long Climb for Online Universities, 2010). Considering
the fact that even the Ivy plus and the states top universities offer online courses it is hard to
believe why anyone would consider online degrees to be of less value or even worse, of no value
whatsoever.
Transfer credit policies are also a very big factor in online courses being frowned upon.
Not only is it a difficult process to transfer anything that wasnt at the university at first but for
all of it to be from a different university AND those credits being earned entirely online makes it
all much more of a struggle. In addition, some universities do not accept some of those courses
to fit into their offered degree plans and might require the student to retake them in their totality.
Transfer credit policies are not going to become any easier to overcome unless people start
changing their views upon online learning. Policies are rules/requirements but even if these
courses meet the requirements nothing will change the credibility but time and graduation rates.
Every university has different transfer credit policies, but the situation switches up when
if it involves taking these courses in a non degree setting. Different policies, accept different
credits. These policies also vary according to different kinds of programs as well. There is surely

Online classes vs. Traditional classes

no doubt that eventually this process will be not as much easier, but yet acceptable through most
colleges within a matter of time.

Why should students not enroll in online classes?

There are several reasons why students should not enroll in online courses. Some reasons
are very common while others are important and unknown. For starters the most commonly
known reason not to is the likelihood of falling behind. Many people actually find online classes
to be more challenging because without a regular in-person class to attend it can be difficult to
find the motivation to stay on track and keep up with the work (Lets Talk; Online Classes Vs.
Regular Classes, 2014). Unless youve taken an online class before or at least a hybrid class it is
likely that you will fall behind unless you truly maintain it as a priority. You must also properly
pace yourself through the work and not leave it to be finished on the last week of the course.
Another reason that would effect a students likelihood to succeed in an online course
would not necessarily be just the students fault but upon the professor as well. If a professor
does not meet the teaching requirements, communication skills, or online skills that can be a
major problem for the student in order to fully grasp the knowledge they should be and
consequently perform well on assignments or exams. However it is completely the students
responsibility to research thoroughly on the professors available for certain programs they are
looking to take and can even go as far as researching a professors teaching back round. They
may also have the capability of investigating certain websites where other students have rated the
same professor on different fields from the semesters before.

Online classes vs. Traditional classes

Students are known to enroll onto online courses because they dont like or want to
socialize or might just feel they are better at learning on their own and at their own pace. What
they dont know is that in order for colleges to receive financial aid they must provide online

classes that require meaningful interaction amongst the classs peers. Dont expect to just turn in
an assignment and get a grade, plan on being active in discussion boards, chat forums, & virtual
group work ( Lets Talk; Online Classes Vs. Regular Classes, 2014). A small defect to this type
of learning would be that it is not complete interaction that you can fully learn from. Sure you
can see what other peoples comments are but it is not the same as to being in an actual
classroom with another student at your side in case you need to ask a quick question or a quick
revision of your work as being in a traditional class setting would allow.
Lastly, online courses do not provide the hands on experiences a lot of classes may
require. Most science courses require lab activities that should be done in the safety of a
classroom and not experimented at home with no supervising whatsoever or following the basic
science safety regulations. And how else would you really proceed and test a hypothesis? These
and other type of subjects may truly suffer from no hands-on interaction. This may also result in
a students frustration towards not fully understanding a project/assignment. Some subjects just
arent meant to be instructed online.
Many of these reasons can easily build up and cause bad behaviors or lack of social skills
from a student.
Behaviors & lack of social skills such as:

Online classes vs. Traditional classes

Self Control- Behaviors that emerge in conflict situations, such as responding

appropriately to teasing, and in non-conflict situations that require taking turns

and compromising.
Responsibility- Behaviors that indicate the ability to communicate with adults and

regard for propriety of work.

School Attendance- Making sure assignments, tests, project, etc. are in on time as

well as logging in for discussions online on time.

Externalizing- Inappropriate behaviors involving poor control of temper and

arguing with another.

Internalizing- Behaviors indicating anxiety, sadness, loneliness, and poor self-

esteem.
Lack of Cooperation- Behaviors such as not complying with rules and directions.

Online classes vs. Traditional classes

References
Tamar Lewin, (June 19, 2013). Online Classes Fuel a Campus Debate.
Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/education/online-classes-fuel-a-campusdebate.html?_r=0
Vista Success, (August 20, 2014). The Rapid Growth of Online Learning at Colleges.
Retrieved from
http://www.vistacollege.edu/blog/uncategorized/the-rapid-growth-of-online-learning-atcolleges
Kathlyn M. Steedly, Amanda Schwartz, Michael Levin, & Stephen D. Luke. (August 2008).
Evidence for Education, volume III, Issue 2.
Retrieved from
http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/social-skills/
Joy Resmovits, (November 30, 2011). Digital Learning Enrollment Triples: U.S. Department of
Education.
Retrieved from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/30/digital-learning-triples-department-ofeducation_n_1121269.html?utm_hp_ref=education-technology
Brian Burnsed, (October 1, 2010).Still a Long Climb for Online Universities.
Retrieved from
http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2010/10/01/still-a-longclimb-for-online-universities
Vivian Zhu (Youtube). (2014, March 6). Lets Talk; Online Classes vs. Regular Classes.
Podcast retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2POKog39mo
Lisa Vaas, (2014). To Tell the Truth: Resume Rules.
Retrieved from
http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/tell-truth-resume-rules

Online classes vs. Traditional classes