Category: Online Vs. Traditional Classes

Introduction

In recent times, there has been a paradigm shift in the education industry around the world, due to so many factors, particularly the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, traditional classroom teaching was the preferable way of learning, and a lot of educational institutions did not take cognizance of online education, but that has changed.

The global effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has made it imperative for educational institutions to have some level of online presence for the continuous education, convenience, and safety of their present and prospective students. Online education is a virtual form of learning, without the physical boundaries of traditional classroom teaching.

Online education has its benefits and challenges, just like traditional classroom teaching. Due to the present economic realities around the world, the advantages of online classes outweigh that of the traditional classroom approach.

Benefits of online education

Online education is more flexible than the traditional classroom approach, students can fit classes around their personal schedules, and training materials are also easily accessible for learning and also for reference purposes, at the convenience of students. It is how people get to travel everywhere with virtual development, and the presence of their own homes. (Kyei-Blankson, 2019).

Online education has become very popular and effective because it is a cheaper solution for learning, some courses are also free or heavily discounted. With physical classes, the cost of education is higher and it’s a hindrance (Jansen, 2018)., and in some cases, students do not get to enroll in their course of interest, due to several limitations. Also, due to budget constraints, some organizations are unable to train their employees in the traditional classroom method but can afford to enroll them in online classes.

Online education also has shorter courses than traditional classroom courses. In some cases, there are courses that can be finished within a day. The course syllabus may be the same or similar, but due to the flexibility of time, students can learn at their pace with online classes, without the physical pressure of their peers within the classroom environment.

Confidence level is also built in the process of learning at convenience and personal speed. In some cases, students can also interact with their teachers on a one-on-one basis, which is without criticism from fellow students. Student retention rates have increased to about 54% as compared to traditional learning methods.

People are able to combine work with studies with the online option availability. The E-Learning option allows people to split their time effectively. The time that was previously invested solely in education can be used to achieve other personal goals. People also get more time to spend with their loved ones while learning, thereby having a more balanced life and in some cases, a more fulfilled life.

Students tend to think more critically because there is a higher level of self-reliance in E-learning than in the classroom approach, which radiates to other aspects of life. The ‘spoon-fed’ approach that the traditional classroom offers has its limitations, it does not broaden the horizon of the mind. The mind has the capacity to do much more than the traditional classroom utilizes.

The internet gives everyone an opportunity to have a global and broader perspective on education, work, and life in general. There are no limitations to what can be learned on the internet. During classes, research can be done while studying, job opportunities can be researched, and students have access to more opportunities in general.

Challenges of online education

Proof of authenticity is one of the issues people face with online certifications because there are thousands of courses, institutions, and people. There are different sources of online courses that cannot be traced back as being authentic, this has created numerous dilemmas. For employment purposes or further studies, where references are required, this could pose a problem for students who took courses online.

Interpersonal relationships are not built upon in most cases during online classes, which could affect the students in the long run, in aspects of life where solid relationships are important. Online study is a more lonely way of studying, people tend to be isolated, especially when dealing with some challenges in the courses.

This type of learning process is less reliable, which will later be proven by various HR consultancy firms. Skills are not determined when using online learning to portray people learning about a particular development. This has the potential to develop a futuristic approach that will make a difference in the coming years. These are formulated to the extent of better results for individuals who are reasonably inclined to take online courses at this time.

Skillfulness is not determined when people with online learning are depicted to learn about certain developments (Jansen, 2018). This can be a development for a futuristic approach leading up to producing an effective change in the periods upcoming. These are formulated within the better outcomes for the people that are usefully inclined to the usage of online courses in the current time period.

Conclusion

The benefits of online learning cannot be overemphasized. It is the ‘new normal’ and it is here to stay, the world has embraced the versatility and opportunities that come with it. There’s room for active and passive learning with online education. These are opportunities that the rigidity of the traditional approach does not offer.

Considering convenience and costs, there are a high number of students that opt for the E-learning option because, in recent times, it has become an easier way of learning (Martin, 2020). There are some set skills expected of a 21st-century employee, and easy accessibility to online classes has given a lot of people the opportunity to learn and unlearn, people are constantly moving with the current trends. Getting certifications are good, but opportunities to take advantage of the numerous online resources are a huge plus.

Active participation in online classes can be easily detected by fellow students and teachers compared to learning through face-to-face interactions. It can give people full control over learning and working at their own speed. (Kyei-Blankson, 2019). There are many offline courses that can be studied with online courses. Currently, student retention rates have increased to about 54% as compared to traditional learning methods. It is a lesser investment of time with the current online learning systems, making it easier for people to traditionally opt for the current developments. It is important to understand that the E-Learning option can allow people to split their time effectively into so many areas, which are currently being invested in one or fewer areas. (Jansen, 2018).

There has to be constant development of the methodologies involved, this was a tactically important idea for recognizing the methods contained therein. One of the biggest things that exists in online courses is that during the current development, it has become an easier and better experience. There are various tests developed in a more improved way (Martin, 2020). There is a more general rating system with online development that facilitates access to learning by improving student involvement. Various studies from Harvard have shown that help is available to people today through past opportunities. E-learning has become a better option for people in comparison to traditional classroom settings.

We acknowledge that the traditional classroom approach has its advantages. It has served us for centuries, so that proves that it’s also a good approach, with its own advantages as well as its disadvantages, which have been leveraged to discuss the effectiveness of online learning.

The world is evolving and we should evolve with it, the online approach is more appropriate and effective, with the current realities of the world, and also for the existing generation. The older generation can equally agree, most of them have accepted the internet as part of their lives and people learn through the available resources on the Internet everyday.

It seemed like the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic factors forced the world to go the E-learning route, but we can all agree that the world has been pushed in the right direction, with the positive impacts that online learning has had in recent times in the lives and careers of so many people.

The world of education is never separated from the name of learning, as well as school is always closely related to a class. This is related to each other because the classroom is a place for learning while at school. The role of the class is very important in the teaching and learning process, a comfortable class will certainly facilitate students in receiving lessons. At this time, we are faced with circumstances that are not possible in carrying out face-to-face classes because of this pandemic. In this pandemic, we must be wise in the use of technologies that appeared in online classes as a solution to this problem. Almost all schools now have a lot of online classes and this works pretty well even though sometimes there are obstacles and shortcomings when running it. Therefore, in this paper, we will provide some similarities and differences between traditional classes and online classes.

Online classes and traditional classes have something in common that can be found or done in these two lessons. The first is that both require students as participants. In the learning process, the most important thing is students as learners and teachers as instructors. If one thing is not there, then the learning process will not work whether it is an online class or a traditional class. In online classrooms, although students do not have to be face to face, students must be present in learning and listening to the teacher’s explanation. Meanwhile, traditional classes require students to meet face to face in every meeting with the teacher. Next, are both requiring assignments as an important part of the learning experience. Assignments are the obligations of each student in learning whether students like it or not. Because this task will give the impression of a direct learning experience to students. Although, we as students do not like it when teachers give assignments and think that assignments only make students stressed. Believe that the task will provide benefits or convenience for students in learning later. In the online class, assignments will be given online by the teacher and can be done anywhere as long as collected according to the time and place that has been determined by the teacher. Online classes usually do not provide maximum experience for their students, because students usually imitate the work of their friends or just copy from the internet without understanding the material. Meanwhile, in the traditional class assignments will be given directly by the teacher and done in place or the classroom and students usually get the maximum understanding when working directly under supervision by the teacher. The last is both online and traditional classes requiring students to manage their time wisely. Students should be able to divide or manage time wisely because it can affect the learning of every student if from now on students cannot manage their time in learning. Managing time as a student is dividing tasks and studying. prioritize the most important things first, so students can be more focused on carrying out predetermined activities. It requires you to set aside some time on your own to study and go through the lessons. This requires discipline and a real understanding of how to wisely use your time throughout the day. And, in online classes students usually have freedom, this freedom is what makes online classes attractive to non-traditional students who can do additional work or have family responsibilities that make attending regular classes a challenge. Meanwhile, traditional classes usually have students structure their time outside of the classroom to allow for studying, projects and homework.

Although they have similarities, these two types of classes certainly have differences. The first difference is that traditional classes must have a place to carry out teaching and learning activities, while online classes don’t need a special place for learning. Online classes can be done anywhere as long as we have a fast internet connection. Then, the second difference is the interaction done in traditional classes is done directly, while online classes are not done directly. ‘Directly’ here has meaning, in learning students and teachers can interact face- to face directly so that the interaction goes well. With learning that is not directly faced to face, the atmosphere of interaction during online classes tends to be ineffective, because students become less active and become passive. as we know, of course, it’s different if we talk directly to the teacher, rather than having to make a video call. Then the third differences are Online classes require more self-direction and discipline. However, traditional classes have more teachers who direct classes. In this case, online classes require self-direction from ourselves in carrying out learning, while the traditional classroom teacher can help us directly even without us giving a sign if we do not understand the learning material. Sometimes the teacher only gives material in E-Learning without explaining, so if we don’t understand we must be able to be independent in understanding the task by looking for other sources.

These two kinds of classes certainly have their advantages and disadvantages. Like online classes, this class looks easier by just using the internet and flexible learning time, but we must have more budget to buy our internet quota to attend online classes, the longer the duration of online classes the more internet quota we are used up. In the implementation of traditional classes, we know that this learning takes quite a lot of time because we need to go to educational institutions or schools. Besides, traditional classes don’t need an internet connection except at certain times. Explanations made by teachers in traditional classes are easier to understand and more responsive, unlike in online classes the explanation is sometimes difficult to understand, and if the internet is slow making student and teacher interactions become slow responses.

One of the main problems that many people looking for higher education stress about is the cost of the degree or the student loans that they will have to pay back, which will cause many people to not continue their higher studies. So here comes online education with a solution that could satisfy a large number of people, distance learning tuitions are far less expensive than traditional on-campus learning, and this is for many reasons. On the first hand, according to Sonya Krakoff, students will cut many expenses by not using any kind of transportations, as the fuel prices are not cheap in most of the countries which impact negatively all kinds of public transportations, no more need for books where most of the materials can be found online in open sources which are “free of charge” like web videos from Khan Academy, and the instructor created content as mentioned by “Tamara Butler Battaglino, Matt Haldeman, and Eleanor Laurans”.Furthermore, people that live far from the university will have to rent dorms because it will not be practical to travel this distance every day, and this comes with additional expenses on food and many other need which can disappear with off-campus learning where those people will attend the courses from anywhere they want virtually online. On the other hand the university itself will cut many costs if they adapted the distance learning method where less equipment from pens, boards, desks ,dining halls ,electricity which is high-priced in Lebanon for example .”Tamara Butler Battaglino, Matt Haldeman, and Eleanor Laurans “also claims that education saves around half a million dollars ‘per school of 450 students per year ‘by diminishing the number of educators and employees by eliminating an assistant principal position for example, offices by replacing many classes by online Learning labs , and extend the student-teacher ratio where instead of an instructor teaching 25 student per class he will teach 35 or 40 students in online classes ,so they could invest some of this many to hire the level of education and reduce the tuition fees to nearly the third over the traditional learning costs which is proved by the article “Online Learning vs Traditional Learning” where it is shown that the average cost for an online degree is approximately 30,000$ whereas the traditional degrees are around 85,000$ .

The question that can be asked is, how flexible is online learning? In short words, more than we can imagine. Who thought that anyone from around the world can one day access his courses anytime, 24 over 7 while maintaining a balanced life between work, education, and family commitment? Well, online education gives all the people this opportunity, as mentioned by “Will Erstad” this comes in favor for a large number of people from working students in restaurants that have am and pm shifts and full time working employees, which gives them the chance to learn at any spare time in the schedule of the student where they can study during work breaks, at night, and on the weekend, and “Dave Tomar “ comes to support this statement in his article where he shared the experience of many working busy people and one example is Russell, studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Case Management from American Intercontinental University, explains that “The flexibility of an online college is its greatest perk. Being a non-traditional student automatically entails that I am working for a living. That being the case, it would have been impossible for me to further my education at a traditional campus college.”, in addition to all the life experiences shared by how distance learning helped employed students complete their degrees, “Maureen Hannay” confirms in a study done on 217 students who chose off-campus learning that 88% of them chose online learning because they have other commitments. Between the age of 18 and 25 are the best times to party and live life the most, but after a long night people are not able to get up early to catch university, add to this category the people that like to study at night, that is not a problem anymore with online learning, party addict, night owl or an early riser, online courses are accessible in the morning and at night 24/7 as stated in the article ‘The Advantages and Importance of Online Learning”.In addition, according to the article” ‘The Advantages and Importance of Online Learning” people can access the online material anywhere, using the laptop, phone or tablet while sitting in a comfortable chair, laying on the bed, in a cafe, in the house which is a quiet and better environment for studying. This comes with positive energy for the students where “Che Nidzam Che Ahmad, Saidatul Ainoor Shaharim2 & Mohd Faizal Nizam Lee Abdullah” mentioned: “Therefore, comfort is the key in encouraging learning effectiveness. A comfortable learning environment which meets the needs of students will encourage active participation and enhance the understanding of the concept”. This flexibility is useful for parents so they can watch their kids at home while watching courses instead of hiring a babysitter to attend the university, if kids need food no problem pause the video prepare the food, and then continue, it is possible to divide the course into many parts take as much time as wanted with any part, take breaks between the parts and then continue, whereas in traditional learning there is a syllabus that should be followed and finished in time.

Another advantage of online learning is the possibility to enroll in accelerated courses that can resolve the problems of many students that need to make money as fast as possible and this is confirmed by “Findings from the Call for Evidence on Accelerated Courses and Switching University or Degree” article that states many advantages statistics :“Benefits of accelerated degree courses include reduced overall costs for students and taxpayers, increased value for money for students” , 73% of suppliers who replied detailed seeing request from students and employees stating that they want to learn and train in a quicker way with the accelerated courses compared to what regular traditional degrees can offer in order to enter the labor market to support their families can enroll in accelerated courses, and this in a very effective way because in this same article 86% of the providers state that accelerated courses would be suitable for most of the material they offer, students on accelerated courses are more concentrated and propelled to finish their degrees than those on traditional degree program, all this with the same assimilation and understanding of the courses and very close results in the exams,in addition students seeking multiple degree as fast as possible to satisfy their love of education and improvement should choose accelerated courses where they can finish the same number of degrees in half the time according to many universities as was stated in the article “Fastest Accelerated Online Degrees” like in B.S. in California Baptist University where courses such as Public Health, B.S. in Computer Information Technology, B.S. in Criminal Justice can be taken in 16 months instead of 36 months, add to this master’s and doctoral degree that are also available ,like in “The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill” one of the most prestigious online schools and it offers multiple accelerated degrees including physical therapy, which can be completed in under two years, Nursing DNP, which can be completed in 24-36 months and must more other universities.

Interaction has a great impact on the student’s overall motivation and their success in the courses, the instructor is responsible for creating an atmosphere where students can feel more comfortable speaking and interacting instead of being nervous and shy to ask questions. This will higher the student’s interest in the course and therefore think critically and analyze instead of memorizing without understanding. Some readers might claim that there is no interaction in online learning between the participants. Undoubtedly, that can be true, if the instructor didn’t follow the proper methods to build a great online interaction with his students mentioned by “Cindy S. York” that include: First, course structure factors like activities, the professor can for example create a competition where the first student to solve a particular exercise will get an additional grade on the test which will challenge the students to try as hard as possible to win or another way could be writing the name of the chapter that they will learn today and instead of immediately begin explaining, the instructor could ask the students what do they this chapter will talk about. Swan a professor at a university who gives online courses and on-campus classes stated regarding the online students: “We found that the greater percentage of the grade that was given to discussion, the more satisfied the students were and the more they felt they were learning.” Second, feedback where the students would discuss with the instructor what the students did like and what they would modify in the way the course is taught which shows “personal reflection” and the interest of the students in the course, in addition, the instructor can evaluate the progress or lack of work of the students by sending compliments to the hard-working ones and advice to the others highlighting where they didn’t work enough and many other methods could be used like discourse techniques and facilitation, etc. Moreover, as mentioned by” Maureen Hannay” shy people will participate more in online courses or they can ask questions in private to the professor, in a study done on 217 students a large number chose distance learning because they felt nervous speaking in traditional classes and they claimed that they felt more confident participating through the online discussions “so they felt more involved in the class”.

Introduction: The Digital Shift in Education

Technology has opened the gates of information accessible to geographical locations around the world. The recent surge in technology usage has yet to be analyzed for its effects on students’ success in the classroom. As our society continues to incorporate digital learning into school systems, we must analyze current differences in literacy, test scores, and quality of learning environments before the classroom was consumed by technology. Many questions still need to be answered surrounding the advantages of a digital classroom. a traditional classroom and whether or not face-to-face interactions between students and teachers make an impact on the educational experience of students. Supporters of digital classrooms claim access to an unlimited amount of sources enhances students’ knowledge and learning experience. Dissenters, in contrast, claim digital classrooms and online courses carve a pathway for cheating due to the lack of supervision, limit students’ ability to communicate thoroughly in conversation and cause a decline in social skills.

The Debate on Digital vs. Traditional Classrooms

Though there is little evidence regarding the risks or advantages of increasing technology use in schools, thousands of studies recently conducted attempt to correlate technology usage to performance in school. Many of these studies are unable to conclude any obvious differences in students’ academic performances between the content being traditional lecture style or online. In fact, Robert Irizarry analyzed the Self-Efficacy and Motivation Effects on Online Psychology Student Retention and found finding a student’s motivation to succeed and their personal regulation may have a more significant impact on any individual’s learning experience than the content delivery method. The factor of motivation is equally as important to consider when schools contemplate instituting digital classrooms as affordability or ease of access to online resources.

Impact of Technology on Student Performance and Motivation

Another study by Clement Chen, Keith T. Jones, and Keith Moreland, for the CPA Journal, analyzes the differences between students enrolled in an accounting class where half of the students evaluated took the course in a traditional classroom, and half took the class with the same professor online. This investigation was an important step in the efforts to determine if online classes are more educational than traditional classrooms because the professor’s teaching and course material did not differ between classes. Ultimately, there was no significant enough difference in final grades to prove whether or not students in the accounting class performed better in the online class or the traditional classroom, but after Chen, Jones, and Moreland received feedback from students who took the class, students who took the online class expressed having more difficulty mastering the class’s material than students who took the class in a traditional classroom. Analysts suspect students may find online courses more challenging than traditional classes because they must remain accountable for learning course content individually.

The Push for Digital Classrooms: Common Core and State Initiatives

Beginning in 2009 was another push toward digital classrooms when the Common Core curriculum was developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices. This association aimed to create standards that would best prepare students for college and establish states’ expectations for students to know upon graduation. The Common Core pushed for increasing technology in kindergarten through twelfth-grade classrooms, mandating schools “make strategic use of media” (SL. 11-12.5.). States confidently enacted this standard which expanded here in Florida later in 2015, when a new state law called for students to complete an online class in order to graduate.

Comparing Global Education Systems: The Role of Technology

On a larger scale, the United States has consistently fallen below nations such as China and Singapore, which do not use as much technology in their school systems, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, which oversees the largest international math and reading exams in the world. The United States’ lack of preparation for students’ proficiency in reading and math suggests there may be struggles in our education system because of students’ reliance on technology to provide instant answers.

There are dozens more examples of how legislatures continue to push technology further into every aspect of our lives, yet not enough time has passed to determine the effects of digital classrooms as opposed to traditional style classrooms. In the midst of a rapidly changing information age, integrating technology into classrooms seem reasonable in order to provide training for future technology-related jobs in the growing industry. However, if states do not proceed with caution, the drastic changes which have occurred in the education system over the past fifteen years may be irreversible as people’s reliance on instant information increases.

The Expanding World of Online Learning

Online learning tools connect students worldwide, expanding the scope of knowledge available to students. Even more, technology reshapes the relationship between educators and students. Being able to share, connect, and learn from anywhere opens innumerable possibilities to learn and teach. Devices give students independence in the classroom, letting students learn for themselves rather than being lectured by a teacher. This freedom expands students’ range of creativity and allows students to experiment, finding their own learning style. Online learning requires an incredible amount of independence and responsibility for the student. Creative thinking and adaptability are essential skills in today’s education.

The Importance of Teacher-Student Relationships in Learning

The strength of the teacher and student relationship additionally affects students’ performance. Harvard students, Hunter Gehlbach, Maureen E. Brinkworth, and Anna D. Harris, tackle the dynamics of student and teacher relationships. They address how students are motivated by “achievement and motivational outcomes.” In their research, Gehlbach, Brinkworth, and Harris found a correlation between motivational teachers and academic improvement. Encouragement and healthy feedback raise the students’ incentive to succeed. Students are more inclined to learn from educators that care about their personal growth. Small daily interactions build personal relationships between teachers and students. The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire says eighty-eight percent of Americans had a teacher with a positive impact on their life. Teachers change people’s lives, with students gravitating towards their educators for learning and support. It becomes a positive cycle of reinforcement, with students working harder and teachers more willing to help their students.

This positive feedback is much more present in physical classrooms, where teachers may connect with students on a personal level. As Rita Pierson says in her TED talk (“Every kid needs a champion”), “kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.” Building connections in person encourages people to connect. Pierson delivers powerful lessons every educator and student should hear. Encouraging students to strive higher, even when they are low, gives them something far greater than facts: perseverance. One example from Pierson’s lesson describes a student who had a two out of twenty on a quiz. Instead of belittling him with a minus eighteen, she said he got a plus two. Pierson then asked the boy, “when we review won’t you do better,” to which he responded, “yes ma’am I will do better!” Something simple as looking a student in the eyes and saying he will achieve something greater will never be replicated on a screen.

Challenges and Limitations of Online Learning

Negative relationships between students and teachers work in the opposite way. Students who take online classes have a lower chance of passing or completing the course. They are less accountable, leading to less proficient work. Online classes require “high levels of self-motivation, self-regulation, and organization,” yet students who struggle in classes tend toward online education (New York Times). Recent trends show students who struggle in classes need extra credit, or credit recovery classes. The classes should help students learn information more clearer and catch up to their peers. One study conducted in Chicago public high schools shows students taking online classes tend to suffer academically compared to face-to-face classes. These recovery courses were harder, with less chance of receiving credit and gaining less knowledge on the subject afterward. The evidence suggests students who had face-to-face contact got more effective help than those taking online courses.

Technology in the Classroom: Tools and Distractions

High school classrooms in 2019 are filled with tablets, smart boards, and laptops. Each one of these pieces of technology provides a purpose in the classroom, but at the same time, hinders the students’ learning abilities. Tablets and laptops allow students to take notes with ease and access online content. Smartboards allow teachers to use presentations and visuals during their lectures. Online learning sites such as KhanAcademy, Moocs, podcasts, and Youtube provide massive amounts of information at students’ fingertips. Typing notes provides faster and more organized notes for students but this may decrease the retention of information. Pam A. Muller of Princeton University studied the difference between learning with laptops in the classroom versus simple paper notes. She found that laptops not only provide distractions to students but also limit students’ comprehension of information. The technology uses the passive brain while using your motor functions, like writing, use your active brain. The “encoding hypothesis” states that a person taking notes processes information that will improve initial comprehension and long-term retention. When asked to remember facts, such as dates, Muller’s experiment proved that both groups performed equally well. When asked conceptual questions, requiring the application to previous knowledge, the students who used laptops performed significantly worse. This demonstrates the depth of knowledge that is lost when screens are introduced. While technology eases accessibility to learning, it also can be detrimental to students’ long-term proficiency.

Mental Health, Technostress, and the Impact of Digital Learning

When observing technology’s effectiveness in the classroom, it is important to understand the mental health issues commonly seen in high schoolers, and how technology affects this. Mary Ellen Flannery, in a 2019 survey, found that 70% of teenagers believe they face a major issue of anxiety and depression. She also found that a 2016 study showed among college students, two-thirds of those surveyed suffered from overwhelming anxiety; 25% of these students stated their anxiety affected their academic performance. Researchers delved into the reasons behind these high percentages and found that as smartphones have risen in popularity, so has anxiety in teenagers. It is not so much the device itself, but rather the services that come with it and habits they encourage which negatively impact teenagers.

Since technology has become more prevalent in daily activities, schools have adapted their teaching methods to fit the digital era. Smart boards, laptops, and tablets are instruments used by teachers and students during class time. While these technological advancements have the potential to improve education, they also have the potential to disrupt it. Laptops provide students with internet access, becoming a distraction to those who would rather check their social media accounts than classwork. As these students ignore information taught in class, they have poorer results on assignments and their grades will decline: leading to anxiety. These distractions can occur outside of the classroom too, for example, when a student is at home working on an assignment. Distractions cause teenagers to stay up late into the night completing schoolwork, making it even harder for them to pay attention at school the following day; generating a cycle of stress and anxiety.

A fairly new phenomenon called technostress may describe the correlation between technology and the rising stress and anxiety of students. King University describes technostress as “a modern disease of adaptation caused by an inability to cope with new technologies in a healthy manner.” Technostress can lead to difficulty concentrating, inability to relax, low confidence, and difficulty sleeping. Essentially, technology can lead to symptoms of anxiety. When introducing the usage of technology in schools, it is necessary to consider the negative impacts technology has on students mentally. Students of all ages already struggle with anxiety and screens can only deepen that issue.

Technology, specifically social media, has led to online interactions without physical connection, causing teenagers to experience less face-to-face interaction. Due to the decrease in social interactions, students are less likely to be able to interpret social cues or experience empathy for others. The increase of technology in the classroom decreases the time students spend interacting and building those necessary social skills. More anxiety and stress arise in this scenario, once more demonstrating that technology does not always positively affect a student’s education.

With the entire world at their fingertips, students’ attention spans are shortening. Because so much information is readily available on the internet, today’s generation has been programmed to expect everything at a high-speed pace. The National Alliance on Mental Illness states that children are constantly experiencing stimuli while their brains are trying to learn how to organize information and pay attention. Because we are constantly being bombarded by these stimuli, children’s brains are lacking the development of how to focus. Electronics are linked to “executive functions, such as concentration and focus, as well as insomnia, mood swings and anxiety.” It is suggested by The National Alliance on Mental Illness that growing children be limited to screen time of 45 minutes per day. This is difficult to enact for children who are using computers, tablets, and Smartboard throughout the entire school day.

The Future of Higher Education: Online Degrees and Traditional Universities

Invading every other part of our lives, it is no surprise that technology has found a way to influence higher education. Not only has technology introduced different classroom tools, but also forms of college education that differentiate from a traditional four-year degree. In the fall of 2017, The National Center for Educational Statistics found that over 2 million undergraduate students receive their college education exclusively through distance learning. This represents about 13.3% of all undergraduate students in the United States. Many four-year universities also offer online courses in addition to their traditional classroom-style courses.

This increase in technology raises the question: how is the value of a college education changing? Historically, many students have been deterred from pursuing higher education because of time restraints, family obligations, and the inability to pay for the high sticker price of a four-year university. Now, students have a new option when looking to pursue a college education. Online degrees give students the ability to work at their own pace with the freedom to juggle their own schedules. Still, many people may believe that online education is not as beneficial as face-to-face learning because you do not build some skills necessary for communication in the workforce. Corporations interviewing graduates may see four-year university degrees as a higher level of prestige than an online degree because of face-to-face learners’ experience with cordial interactions. Certain jobs require people skills and problem-solving skills to be as equally important as the content offered. With online learning, it may be more difficult to develop those skills because communication with people and real-world problem-solving are limited.

Whether proponent or adversary of online education, there is no doubt that online learning has catered to the consumer culture of Americans. As technology increases, we are focused on instant gratification. Online learning provides an education that meets the needs of the consumer, working around families, jobs, and financial restraints. Rather than taking four years to immerse in studies, online schooling allows students to earn a degree for the rest of their life.

While distance learning has developed since it was first introduced in the 1990s, four-year universities have become increasingly popular as well. At the start of the information age, in 1970, there were about 9 million students enrolled in undergraduate universities. In 2017, this enrollment has risen to 19.66 million (Duffin). This increase may be due to the cultural pressure to attend a traditional four-year university. Many researchers concluded that because of the increase in college enrollment, the value of those college degrees decreases. Jessica Dickler The financial aspect of college varies from person to person, however, the earning gap between those with a high school education versus a college degree is estimated “to be more than $32,000 per year” (Heckler). In addition, technology is rapidly changing the labor market. The World Economic Forum states that “new categories of jobs will emerge, partly or wholly displacing others.” Higher education has shifted to accommodate the unknown future career paths of students. Education is not only focused on teaching content to students, but allowing them to develop critical thinking skills, and social skills required for the uncertain future of the workforce.

The task of regulating the usage of technology in classrooms is a challenging one to handle because of the vast range of possible benefits and downfalls technology brings into education. States are faced with difficult decisions to make when deciding if pushing schools to incorporate technology will positively impact students or be detrimental to future generations. If education systems continue to advance at the rate technology is, there will be no way to revert back to traditional style teaching, should long-term effects of technology be concluded in the future. Making this situation even more difficult, the short time span in which technology has been rooted deeply into daily life has not

Introduction

In recent times, there has been a paradigm shift in the education industry around the world, due to so many factors, particularly the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, traditional classroom teaching was the preferable way of learning, and a lot of educational institutions did not take cognizance of online education, but that has changed.

The global effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has made it imperative for educational institutions to have some level of online presence for the continuous education, convenience, and safety of their present and prospective students. Online education is a virtual form of learning, without the physical boundaries of traditional classroom teaching.

Online education has its benefits and challenges, just like traditional classroom teaching. Due to the present economic realities around the world, the advantages of online classes outweigh that of the traditional classroom approach.

Benefits of online education

Online education is more flexible than the traditional classroom approach, students can fit classes around their personal schedules, and training materials are also easily accessible for learning and also for reference purposes, at the convenience of students. It is how people get to travel everywhere with virtual development, and the presence of their own homes. (Kyei-Blankson, 2019).

Online education has become very popular and effective because it is a cheaper solution for learning, some courses are also free or heavily discounted. With physical classes, the cost of education is higher and it’s a hindrance (Jansen, 2018)., and in some cases, students do not get to enroll in their course of interest, due to several limitations. Also, due to budget constraints, some organizations are unable to train their employees in the traditional classroom method but can afford to enroll them in online classes.

Online education also has shorter courses than traditional classroom courses. In some cases, there are courses that can be finished within a day. The course syllabus may be the same or similar, but due to the flexibility of time, students can learn at their pace with online classes, without the physical pressure of their peers within the classroom environment.

Confidence level is also built in the process of learning at convenience and personal speed. In some cases, students can also interact with their teachers on a one-on-one basis, which is without criticism from fellow students. Student retention rates have increased to about 54% as compared to traditional learning methods.

People are able to combine work with studies with the online option availability. The E-Learning option allows people to split their time effectively. The time that was previously invested solely in education can be used to achieve other personal goals. People also get more time to spend with their loved ones while learning, thereby having a more balanced life and in some cases, a more fulfilled life.

Students tend to think more critically because there is a higher level of self-reliance in E-learning than in the classroom approach, which radiates to other aspects of life. The ‘spoon-fed’ approach that the traditional classroom offers has its limitations, it does not broaden the horizon of the mind. The mind has the capacity to do much more than the traditional classroom utilizes.

The internet gives everyone an opportunity to have a global and broader perspective on education, work, and life in general. There are no limitations to what can be learned on the internet. During classes, research can be done while studying, job opportunities can be researched, and students have access to more opportunities in general.

Challenges of online education

Proof of authenticity is one of the issues people face with online certifications because there are thousands of courses, institutions, and people. There are different sources of online courses that cannot be traced back as being authentic, this has created numerous dilemmas. For employment purposes or further studies, where references are required, this could pose a problem for students who took courses online.

Interpersonal relationships are not built upon in most cases during online classes, which could affect the students in the long run, in aspects of life where solid relationships are important. Online study is a more lonely way of studying, people tend to be isolated, especially when dealing with some challenges in the courses.

This type of learning process is less reliable, which will later be proven by various HR consultancy firms. Skills are not determined when using online learning to portray people learning about a particular development. This has the potential to develop a futuristic approach that will make a difference in the coming years. These are formulated to the extent of better results for individuals who are reasonably inclined to take online courses at this time.

Skillfulness is not determined when people with online learning are depicted to learn about certain developments (Jansen, 2018). This can be a development for a futuristic approach leading up to producing an effective change in the periods upcoming. These are formulated within the better outcomes for the people that are usefully inclined to the usage of online courses in the current time period.

Conclusion

The benefits of online learning cannot be overemphasized. It is the ‘new normal’ and it is here to stay, the world has embraced the versatility and opportunities that come with it. There’s room for active and passive learning with online education. These are opportunities that the rigidity of the traditional approach does not offer.

Considering convenience and costs, there are a high number of students that opt for the E-learning option because, in recent times, it has become an easier way of learning (Martin, 2020). There are some set skills expected of a 21st-century employee, and easy accessibility to online classes has given a lot of people the opportunity to learn and unlearn, people are constantly moving with the current trends. Getting certifications are good, but opportunities to take advantage of the numerous online resources are a huge plus.

Active participation in online classes can be easily detected by fellow students and teachers compared to learning through face-to-face interactions. It can give people full control over learning and working at their own speed. (Kyei-Blankson, 2019). There are many offline courses that can be studied with online courses. Currently, student retention rates have increased to about 54% as compared to traditional learning methods. It is a lesser investment of time with the current online learning systems, making it easier for people to traditionally opt for the current developments. It is important to understand that the E-Learning option can allow people to split their time effectively into so many areas, which are currently being invested in one or fewer areas. (Jansen, 2018).

There has to be constant development of the methodologies involved, this was a tactically important idea for recognizing the methods contained therein. One of the biggest things that exists in online courses is that during the current development, it has become an easier and better experience. There are various tests developed in a more improved way (Martin, 2020). There is a more general rating system with online development that facilitates access to learning by improving student involvement. Various studies from Harvard have shown that help is available to people today through past opportunities. E-learning has become a better option for people in comparison to traditional classroom settings.

We acknowledge that the traditional classroom approach has its advantages. It has served us for centuries, so that proves that it’s also a good approach, with its own advantages as well as its disadvantages, which have been leveraged to discuss the effectiveness of online learning.

The world is evolving and we should evolve with it, the online approach is more appropriate and effective, with the current realities of the world, and also for the existing generation. The older generation can equally agree, most of them have accepted the internet as part of their lives and people learn through the available resources on the Internet everyday.

It seemed like the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic factors forced the world to go the E-learning route, but we can all agree that the world has been pushed in the right direction, with the positive impacts that online learning has had in recent times in the lives and careers of so many people.