The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the overall structure and ballgame of the education system worldwide. With almost all educational institutions shifting themselves online, the debate on online classes vs offline classes has become more prevalent than ever. There’s no denying the fact, that online learning has kept the education system alive even during times of crisis. However, it would not be too wise to consider online classes as an alternative to offline classes.
To consider online classes vs. offline classes, one has to take into account all the important advantages and disadvantages they have.
Online Vs Offline Classes: Which One to Select?
Thanks to the advent of technology, the technique of offering education has entirely changed. Online education is now the most effective and flexible instructional method of imparting lessons, where students can access study materials.
Offline classes, on the other hand, are the conventional learning technique that involves face-to-face interaction between students and teachers.
Online Classes: Understanding The Term
Online learning is referred to the process where students are empowered, enlightened and taught through digital classrooms. During online learning, the students can access the study resources uploaded by educators from across the world, as long as they have a good internet connection.
One of the reasons why online education is important is because the teacher can implement different learning aids. The different online learning tools like virtual conference rooms, live chats, animations, virtual whiteboards, videos and audio are excellent ways to improve the learning session.
Offline Classes: Understanding the Term
Offline classes mean the conventional education system which involves face-to-face interaction between students and teachers. Online teaching might be seen as an integral part of future education. The essay on online classes vs offline classes is also being published worldwide to understand its merits. But It cannot be seen as a substitute for offline education.
Offline teaching not only instills the values of working in a team and improving interactive skills. But they also teach the importance of collaborating with their peers.
Teaching Pattern
Online Classes
During online classes, educators count on digital classrooms to impart lessons. The online teaching materials are always available, as long as you have a stable network connection. This is one of the best reasons why online learning is good. Online class learning is done through different tools like video conferences, assignment activity tools, videos, virtual whiteboards and so on.
Offline Classes
For offline classes, students reap the benefits of experience practicing hands-on learning sessions while also being present in the classroom in the presence of a teacher. Students during offline classes can indulge in various debates, quizzes, group discussions, team project work and live discussions.
Additionally, they can also take part in various co-curricular activities like first-aid, dance, music, and drama. They can also participate in physical education for overall improved well-being.
Accessibility of Learning
Online Classes
When debating online classes vs offline classes, one point that is worth considering is that in online learning, students can learn and take lessons at their own pace without having to rush. If and when students miss their online teaching because of sickness or some other reason, they can easily access the online reading materials and recorded class lectures. This gives sufficient time to students to complete their project works and assignments.
Offline Classes
However for offline classes, thanks to the predetermining school schedule, learning occurs during fixed time. One of the primary points in the online classes vs. offline classes debate is that students’ scope of learning new things and exploring fresh concepts is limited in offline classes.
Since offline classes lack recorded lectures and online materials, students have to be present in the physical classrooms every day.
Accessibility to Study Materials
Online Classes
Students from across the world can be part of the online lectures and resources through various channels like Microsoft Team, Google Meet, Zoom, etc during online classes. Since classes can be accessed from the comfort of the house, students don’t have to deal with the hassle of traveling to and fro from school.
Offline Classes
When we talk of accessibility during offline vs online education debate, offline mode is considered quite inadequate and problematic. This is because the students have to invest money in their traveling. They also have the risk of missing their classes because of various reasons.
They solely have to rely on their batchmates to get the important notes and discussions already covered in the classes, which in turn proves inconvenient.
Interaction Between Students and Teachers
Online Classes
For the online mode of education, there are different options available for interaction, all of which are based on the pupil’s discipline. Moreover, if you are only interested in listening to recorded lectures and avoid interaction between students and teachers, then the whole point of learning might fail. This is because a lot of questions and doubts might remain unanswered and unresolved.
Offline Classes
One of the best reasons why offline learning is better than online is because both students and teachers can actively communicate. The students can enjoy live debates and discussions with their mates and teachers and deepen their insight on various subjects.
Teachers at the same time can enjoy imparting lessons and address their doubts and questions. Most importantly, teachers can even identify the mistakes.
Technological Concerns
Online Classes
Both educators and students must have access to smart devices like tablets, smartphones or laptops apart from a good and stable internet connection to be a part of online learning. The lack of any of these resources might create an obstacle for both students and teachers.
Furthermore, both students and pupils must be confident enough to operate the devices, lest it might lead to challenges.
Offline Classes
However, in offline mode, there is hardly any use of smart devices for teaching and learning. When talking about offline classes versus online classes it is worth mentioning that offline classes are even accessible to those who lack a stable internet connection or cannot afford smart devices like PC or smartphones. Since face-to-face teaching is followed for offline education, teachers need not be tech-savvy to impart a lesson.
Practical Learning
Since online education is based on theoretical knowledge, it doesn’t take place offline but online. This hardly lets the students participate in technical learning which is an indispensable part of education. Students are required to mark their presence in the classrooms for various subjects including biology, physics, chemistry, art and crafts, physical education, etc. All of these subjects are composed of interesting live experiments, teamwork,
Offline classes are a combination of both practical and theoretical learning, unlike online classes. This is what helps student develop their cognitive skills and overall well-being. Practical learning lets you toast to routine challenges both effectively and quickly. Nonetheless, to mention, real-life scenarios can add to a better understanding of the subject.
Online Classes vs Offline Classes Advantages and Disadvantages
What are the Benefits of Online Classes?
You Can Access Online Classes from the Comfort of Your House
The basic reason why people prefer online classes over offline classes is because of their convenience. One of the biggest drawbacks of offline classes is that one has to travel to and fro from his/her house to attend them. However, for digital learning, one can enjoy learning from the comfort of their house. You can play the recorded videos and lectures at your convenience even if you have missed them before.
All you need to get started is a stable internet connection and a smart device. What more? You can even save the time that you otherwise invested in commuting to school.
The Flexibility of Online Classes is Worth Praising
Your answer to “Is online classes good” is that they is isn’t only good but it is even better than offline classes for a variety of reasons. One such reason is flexibility. You can save a significant amount of time by not having to commute. You can enjoy your flexibility in selecting the right time to study with online classes. Online courses are designed to help you pursue your academic objective at your own pace.
Online Classes Come at A Much Affordable Price
Conducting online classes has become a more feasible and much more affordable option for educational institutions. This is because they don’t have to depend on a physical location to offer their education. When you have to commute, your expenses increase. However, with online classes, you can save that conveyance cost on productive things like buying books and other stationery.
Experience Better Interaction in Online Classes
One of the most-loved answers to the popular question “why is online learning good?” is that it promotes better interaction. While some people think the only best way to connect comes through traditional learning inside the classrooms. However, this isn’t true since not everybody is confident enough to ask questions to their teachers in front of their peers.
For students who shy away from resolving their queries, because of the fear that they might be judged, online classes have the feature of private conversation and live communication with the educator. Also if students feel uncomfortable showing themselves to the entire class, they can always switch off their camera or mute their microphone during the online class.
The Drawbacks of Online Classes
Online Classes Can Foster a Feeling of Isolation
Every student has a unique way of grasping things. While others have the confidence to work on their own. Others might get to learn effectively only within the university community, where they can easily connect with their teachers and attend live lectures. However, online classes are doing their best to bridge this gap by reinforcing a sense of community even in a virtual environment.
The online classes are bridging the gap by using various technologies which lets the students participate in live sessions actively.
Instructors Should Be Trained on How to Conduct Online Learning
Offering successful online courses needs the teacher to undergo rigorous training on how to impart teaching digitally. Teachers should have a strong foothold on the different virtual aids and how to use them effectively. They must be able to blend the experience of the physical classrooms with the benefits of technology to bring about good and interactive learning. When considering online education versus offline education, you have to take this point into account.
Online Classes Are Susceptible to Technical Errors
One of the major drawbacks of online learning is associated with technical problems and errors. An online class can be disrupted easily by something as petty as connectivity, video or audio issues. Previously, students were encouraged to download programs and technologies that took hours to get installed and this led to their unsatisfactory performance. However, online classes at present can be accessed with the click of a few buttons.
Advantages of Offline Education
Students Have Lesser Distractions
To answer the question “Which is better online classes or offline classes?”, you have to understand the merits of offline education. Students are inclined towards offline classes in most cases, mainly because of the improved classroom engagement and the understanding they receive of every subject. It isn’t easy for students to participate in virtual learning and not get distracted.
Students Interact Better in Offline Education
One of the primary reasons to prefer traditional classroom learning is that it promotes better student-teacher interaction and communication through group discussions. This is the reason the interaction part is one of the most talked-about online classes vs offline classes group discussion points. Learning within the classroom is never limited to textual understandings and traditional learning but expands beyond it.
Interactive learning sessions incorporated by offline education stimulate questions on a particular issue, which outcomes in better learning.
Students Receive More Attention from Teachers
A successful learning experience demands a good student-teacher interaction. Offline learning lets the teachers understand their students and curate lesson planning accordingly. Moreover, when curricula are tailor-made as per students’ demands, they offer more benefits.
Students Can Engage in Extracurricular Activities
Extracurriculars play a vital role in our lives and only traditional education can serve them effectively. While some might think, can extracurricular activities might hurt academics, the research tells otherwise.
Drawbacks of Offline Learning
You Spend Considerable Amount of Money on Travelling
Offline classes are held at a particular location for which you have to travel either on your vehicle or public transport. This not only adds to the expense but also an added hassle of getting ready for it. Online classes on the flip side, let students set a timetable that they can adhere to. This gives you a convincing reason as to why online learning is good?
You Have to Stick to A Fixed Schedule
You don’t get any flexibility in choosing offline classes, since they have a fixed schedule for their students. Since the class timetables cannot be modified or changed, students find it difficult to manage their studies and work as part-time or interns somewhere.
Offline Learning is Expensive
Offline learning is an expensive mode when compared with online learning, not only because of its skyrocketing school fees but also because of transport fees, stationary and syllabus books. Managing offline learning becomes difficult for a lot of people who have lower income rates.
Offline Learning Doesn’t Include Advanced Technology
Online classes are the best way to know about ever-advancing technology. Students can learn how to handle technology and use it effectively by simply operating them and using computers, smartphones and laptops for their regular classes. However, students who have always received the traditional mode of learning have always lacked exposure to technology. And this might prove to be a drawback for them, especially in this digitized world.
The Future of Online Classes
Several universities worldwide have begun their mission of offering online courses, owing to their belief that it would help them stay relevant and alive in the long term. The universities that offer online learning courses are encouraging enrolment from more students in their institutes, including those from the provincial areas.
Universities, just like any other large organization, believe in catering to consumer demands and adapting themselves to technological evolution. That said, more and more educational organizations are coming forward to incorporate online teaching techniques into their classrooms like virtual reality, AI and augmented reality.
Can Online Classes Replace Offline Classes?
With so much being done in the name of online learning, one thing is important to note is that it isn’t replacing traditional classroom teaching anytime soon. Schools are geared towards integrated online courses rather than wholesale replacement, considering the primal role of teachers in shaping the minds of the next generation.
Learning should never be confused with gaining simple textual knowledge but rather a social experience. Traditional classroom-based teaching should always remain prevalent and become integrated with online learning. And though it isn’t easy to assume where online learning shall take us, it sure will become an integral part of our learning.