Traditional and Online Learning: Similarities and Differences

The internet revolutionized the way we do things including education, in 1983 the internet was invented but it was not until 1990 that it was introduced throughout the world. Shortly after the worldwide spread of the internet, online education came about, gradually throughout the year’s online education became one of the most popular ways to learn. Traditional schooling on the other hand generally stresses basic educational practices and expects mastery of academic learning in the core subjects of math, reading, writing, science and social studies.

Both online learning and traditional on-campus learning have pros and cons such as, online learning provides many channels through which students and instructors interact with each other, including email, online chat, and video conferences, whereas Traditional education provides communication through the same channels with the addition of in-person and/or in-classroom opportunities. The convenience and flexibility of online learning allow you to study at any time, virtually anywhere you have an internet connection. It's an ideal solution for people with demanding work schedules and family obligations.

Get quality help now
Doctor Jennifer
Doctor Jennifer
checked Verified writer
star star star star 5 (893)

“ Thank you so much for accepting my assignment the night before it was due. I look forward to working with you moving forward ”

avatar avatar avatar
+84 relevant experts are online
Hire writer

In many situations, you can pause the content or go back to a portion to refresh your memory. This is incredibly helpful when you need to spend extra time on a challenging topic. Yet traditional learning just focuses on the three R’s not giving students the future knowledge they need. (Purdue University Global)

Today, online education is widely accepted, highly-regarded, and completely necessary for educating a diverse and constantly evolving student population. Online courses are convenient because students may log into the course material whenever it suits their schedule.

Get to Know The Price Estimate For Your Paper
Topic
Number of pages
Email Invalid email

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

"You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy"
Write my paper

You won’t be charged yet!

Of course, there are deadlines regarding homework assignments and discussions, but as long as the student meets these deadlines, they can read and review course material at their leisure. This is particularly great for those also juggling a career and family. Online education is already pretty high tech but it continues to improve throughout every year. There is a growing number of online schools being established each year. This means that people considering pursuing an online degree can shop around for schools, finding the one that best suits their educational needs and desires. Online degree programs are available that offer certificates, online associates, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees. In 2019 the University of Pennsylvania became the first Ivy League university to offer a totally online bachelor’s degree program. Online education continues to transform learning for students, educators, and schools alike. Web innovations have changed the way we study, engaging information, and relate to one another. From its experimental stages to its widespread, present-day applications, online education has constantly altered and improved the educational landscape. Online education creates advancements in Educational Accessibility, Free Online College Courses, Fully Accredited Online Schools, Fully Online High Schools, and Widespread Web-based Learning in K–12 Curricula learning. (Campus Explorer)

Traditional education is defined as teacher-centered delivery of instruction to classes of students who are the receivers of information. Schools in many districts look the same as schools did a century or more ago. Desks are lined in neat rows, teachers deliver one standard lecture, and every student is expected to perform at the exact same level, learning at the same pace and in the same way as peers. The traditional education system doesn't serve the needs of the current generation, much less the demands of the next. To succeed, students must learn not only the three Rs but also skills for jobs we can’t yet conceive. Studies show that to compete in the workforce of the future, today’s children will need to collaborate to solve problems and use creative approaches and analyses. They'll also need to continually develop new skills by engaging in self-directed learning. One of the many pros in the traditional schooling system is, the schools or institutions have a well-organized structure and foundation (Dailyonweb). Everything is preplanned, whether it is the curriculum or extra-curriculum activities or everyday timetable. Alongside the many pros in Traditional education, there are also many cons. One of them being that Traditional education is quite expensive as compared to some alternate education or online education, especially at colleges or universities. (Kim, Anthony)

Although online schooling has the potential to deliver quality instruction, it can lack the opportunity for students to learn alongside a community of other students. Going through traditional schooling you get the in-class experience and face to face lessons with teachers and social interaction with other students these interactions with peers and friends also adds to the students’ learning process. They learn to tolerate differences and learn to share and respect each other’s opinions. This kind of interaction also develops and nourishes moral values in students, but traditional schooling focuses more on the basic necessities such as reading, writing, and arithmetic and doesn’t really focus on helping with future jobs. Traditional schooling makes you book smart compared to street smart.

Works Cited

  1. “Campus Explorer.” Campus Explorer,
  2. https://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/F0232E15/Pros-and-Cons-of-Online-School/.
  3. Dailyonweb. “X Pros & Cons of Traditional Education.” Dailyonweb, 17 Oct. 2017,
  4. https://www.dailyonweb.com/News/X-Pros-Cons-of-Traditional-Education.html.
  5. Kim, Anthony. “Why Traditional Schooling Can't Prepare Students for the Modern Workplace.”
  6. Entrepreneur, 28 July 2016, https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/279365.
  7. Purdue University Global. “Classroom vs. Online Education.” Purdue Global, Purdue University
  8. Global, 9 Oct. 2019, https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/student-life/classroom-versus-online/.
Updated: Aug 11, 2021
Cite this page

Traditional and Online Learning: Similarities and Differences. (2021, Apr 26). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/traditional-and-online-learning-similarities-and-differences-essay

Traditional and Online Learning: Similarities and Differences essay
Live chat  with support 24/7

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

get help with your assignment