We live in a time of unparalleled access to knowledge. Never before have we been able to learn so much, so fast, at any age. The internet allows us to stream lecture videos by the world’s foremost thought leaders and educators. We can even debate with and discuss with strangers from all over the world. So, which is better: face to face vs online learning?
The answer is both. No one method of learning is better, but each has its place in our educational system. The most important thing is to make sure that students are exposed to both modes of learning so that they can decide which best suits their needs and interests.
“Technology is not a silver bullet. It’s only as good as the teachers … using it as one more tool to help inspire, and teach, and work through problems.” — Barack Obama.
You may have many questions about the difference between e-learning and face-to-face. That’s natural! Learning is an essential part of any business, and this article should provide a good starting point in helping you discover your options.
Traditional Education is Now a Thing of the Past
For many people, traditional education is now a thing of the past. Conventional education is now a thing of the stone age. Today’s learners are given access to online learning platforms and find that traditional teaching methods can be too restrictive. This is why online learning platforms are now being preferred more by students.
What is Online learning?
Online learning is any learning you can do at home, on your own time and in your own space. It gives you the flexibility to know when you have time and means that you can maintain your daily schedule to attend lessons. Do you know, what is the best part about online learning? You get to view learning materials whenever and wherever you want.
Face to Face vs Online Learning
Face-to-face learning is the most common type of learning and involves an instructor in a classroom or learning center who can give real-time feedback and answer learners’ questions. The advantage of this method is that there is time between lessons and you have access to the trainer’s expertise if you need it.
Face to face vs online learning
Whether the organization offers internal or external training, there is no question: your learners need digital. Organizations have to make the switch, often to survive. Online learning for employees is an expectation as the workplace becomes more virtual.
Your learners want digital because it’s convenient and easy. They want online learning because they can access their courses at a time that suits them, wherever they are in the world. A learning platform is quick to set up and easy to use and can track your learners’ progress through their learning path, guiding them along the way.
The Business Transformation
Managing corporate eLearning is a challenge. You need to ensure that your learning content is fit for purpose, meets compliance requirements and matches the needs of learners.
You have to make it accessible to employees at all times, on whatever device they choose to use – mobile, tablet or desktop. A corporate eLearning strategy designed for the future could offer online learning/training which managers need most: at home or on the move. This can help you increase productivity and save time by reducing travel costs and environmental impact.
Here are a few reasons why this transformation is taking place.
Flexible learning
Online learning is flexible. You can learn at your own pace and make the most of your time by fitting it around your life. No more taking two weeks off work to cram before an exam!
Many people spend hours commuting or travelling during their day, making even the thought of getting another qualification seem less than appealing. But with an online course, you can do all that extra studying where you want—and when you want. E-learning can be accessed on your learners’ terms – research shows that the modern learner spends 33% of their time in meetings already.
You don’t have to sit in lectures or travel across town every week to complete a lecture series anymore; instead, you can simply listen in on them from the comfort of home. If particular subjects aren’t relevant to your current career path, then just skip that section and move on with what interests you most!
You can learn at your own pace.
One of the main advantages of online learning is that it allows you to learn at your own pace. You can take as much time as necessary to understand the material, and there is no pressure to finish lessons quickly.
This also means that you don’t have to worry about missing lessons or classes if, for example, something urgent comes up in real life such as a family emergency or job interview. In fact, since most online courses have a flexible schedule, they’re ideal if you would rather take breaks when needed instead of rushing through everything at once. One thing’s for sure: Online learning has never been more convenient!
More topics to choose from
Online learning gives you more choices. Many providers are offering a wide range of courses, which means you have many options when it comes to finding the right course for you. The flexibility of online learning also makes it possible for students to access courses at times that suit them and their schedules.
Last but not least, when we talk about e-learning vs traditional learning, online learning is often more affordable than face-to-face learning as there is no need to travel or pay for accommodation costs.
Now, here we have Face to Face learning pros:
Improved Attendance
One of the biggest benefits of face-to-face learning is that students are more likely to attend school. When virtual learning is used, students may not show up for a class or may miss it altogether. This means that this absence could negatively impact their education.
There are other benefits as well. Virtual learning allows teachers to reach more students and make lessons more engaging by allowing them to use multimedia tools like PowerPoint and video conferencing technology. It also allows them to create a more diverse classroom experience by allowing students from different backgrounds and with different interests to interact with one another in real-time.
This helps reduce the likelihood of bullying or discrimination based on race or religion because all students are present at once in their own physical space rather than just chatting online with each other without any visual cues about who they’re speaking with at any given moment.
Increased Social Skills
The benefits of face-to-face learning, in the online learning vs classroom learning debate, are numerous, and they apply to social skills as well. Face-to-face teaching can help kids develop important social skills that will serve them throughout their lives. When students learn in a classroom setting, they are more likely to interact with one another than if they were just sitting around at home watching TV or playing video games.
Studies have shown that students who attend school are less likely to get into fights with other classmates outside of school because they’ve already learned how to resolve conflicts while in class together!
More Brain Stimulation
Brain stimulation is important because it helps the brain grow, develop and learn. When you’re learning something new, your brain sends out a signal that it wants more information. This is why you might feel so hungry when you study or work on a project: it’s telling you that it needs fuel!
Conclusion
In the end, it’s essential to weigh your options so you can find the best fit for you! As we’ve seen, online courses are cheaper and more flexible than on-campus courses. But they require more discipline and self-motivation from students because there must be live instructors around to guide them through their learning process. So, to answer traditional learning vs online learning, which is the best?
Do what suits you best; face-to-face classes also have advantages: teachers and other students can help keep each other accountable for completing their assignments or attending classes regularly. It’s up to each student what type of learning experience works best for them–and if you find out that neither side appeals at first glance, don’t stress too much about it! Just keep looking until something clicks!
One more last note: if you’re a Malaysian L&D provider or freelancer, reach out to us at arun@talentstore.co and we can discuss about having you onboarded as a partner on TalentStore! Training success starts with access!
