Distance Learning Vs. Traditional Classroom Comparative

Distance Learning vs. the Traditional Classroom

Non-traditional students are finding it easier and easier to maintain a job, a family, and pursuing a college career at the same time. This is possible because more and more non-traditional students are receiving an education using distance learning, as opposed to traditional, in-the-classroom teaching. Distance learning is basically taking college level, credit-bearing courses via the Internet. One of the most obvious advantages of distance learning is that it puts the classroom in your home, office, or wherever you can find a computer and log on to the Internet. However, there is much controversy regarding the quality of the courses being offered on the Internet versus the quality of courses taught in the traditional classroom.

The courses taught in the traditional classroom provide ?important aspects of teacher immediacy, which are behaviors that enhance physical and psychological closeness (mehrabian, 1981)? with the student and the instructor. Verbal behaviors such as praising students, addressing them by name and using humor in the class may evoke immediacy. There is also non-verbal immediacy, which is body language such as adopting a relaxed body position, varying one?s vocal expression, moving around in the classroom and smiling while looking at the class (Richmond, Gorham & McCroskey, 1987). This type of behavior allows for a relationship between the student and the instructor to truly develop into something significant. It also allows for the student to develop his or her individuality in the classroom.

Traditional classroom teaching also provides students with the opportunity to have real social interaction with one another. This interaction in turn allows for the students to help one another in terms of academics or in terms of personal issues. Previous research has determined that the use of non-verbal and verbal behavior allow the student to become satisfied with the actual course and the Instructor. This is because the student is allowed to get a ?feel? for the class.

Distance learning does not provide the advantage of building a strong academic or interpersonal relationship with your Instructor. It also does not allow you to express your individuality in the classroom. Distance learning is more of a multimedia-type learning than anything else. This is because distance learning is accomplished via the Internet. Receiving instruction via the Internet is analogous to receiving instruction to, say, a CD ROM.

Distance learning is not the best way to receive instruction. It could be that my bias is for traditional classroom learning because that is all that I have know all my life. I cannot fully comprehend how effective can learning over the Internet truly be. However, at the same time we have to focus on why some students decide that taking a web course is the best choice for them.

A non-traditional student, as defined by the Buffalo State College 1999-2000 Catalog is a person who waits one full year to attend college after graduating high school or one that decides to attend college after his or her twenty-third birthday. Statistics show that the majority of non-traditional students are employed. Many have children to look after. Many non-traditional students have jobs that would normally interfere with going to class on specified time schedules, thus putting there personal financial survival and their ability to earn a living for those whom are their dependants in danger. For this reason, distance learning is a blessing from the heavens for non-traditional students.

Usually, when the student registers to take such a course, their goal is to receive the ?same? education that is being offered in a classroom setting, the only difference being that it would be offered using the Internet. This is beneficial to these students by reason that because the course is offered via the Internet, the students could easily access the course during any hour of the day or evening. Doing this allows the student to take care of any other responsibility that they would have to perform at home or in the workplace that could not possibly wait until after the individual was out of class, if the person were taking courses in a traditional classroom setting. The potential benefits that the ?non-traditional? students may have with this form of learning are ?personalized instruction, active learning, instant feed back, faster and more effective teaching and the empowerment of the students?. (Hiltz, 1986, Ragsdale and Kassam, 1994, Webster& Hackley, 1997).

As slightly mentioned above, one of the greatest aspects about distance learning is that it empowers the students to take an increasingly active role in their education, placing more responsibility on the student and ultimately making him or her the master of his education. Distance learning is mostly noted for its availability. Imagine if you could ?go to class? at any time that was convenient for you. That would be a dream come true.

In addition to its ability to empower students and its availability, distance learning is also a good tool by which one can get an education because online professors can use more than just words to communicate the objectives of their lessons. Distance learning often allows professors to use multimedia tools such as animated photography and other devices to make their lessons easier to understand. For example, a professor of biology explaining the concept of the double helix, and how it is made up of proteins and genes can use a three-dimensionally animated picture to construct and deconstruct a double helix and label its parts.

Another advantage of distance learning is that you determine your surroundings, or your educational environment. Although the professor might