An Analysis Comparing the Quality and Accessibility of Traditional and Online Learning

Abstract

In the last two decades we have seen the world change at a rapid pace. From changes in the way of living to new technologies emerging, everything has been changing constantly. Nevertheless, these changes need adaptation. With these ever-changing landscapes and new challenges us humans have had to adapt every industry, every norm, and every aspect of our lives. This world adaptation includes changes in one of the largest industries of the whole world:the education industry. With these changes in the way of living and technology,we have seen a shift from traditional forms of education to the implementation of new ways of education. This includes the shift from in-person education to online education, also known as distance learning. Now, in the middle of a global pandemic and isolation, many schools and colleges have been ramping up this change by implementing more online courses each time. As a matter of fact, the number of students taking at least one online college course has increased each consecutive year. Since 2019, the number of students studying at distance increased by 33%, while the number of institutions o)ering online courses increased by 9.8%. However, these changes come with important questions. Which is better traditional or online education? Is online education as e)ective as traditional education? Recent studies state that despite the rapid growth of online learning, many college and school students still prefer traditional classroom learning. The study says that 78% of more than 1,000 students surveyed still believe it is easier to learn in a classroom. When it comes to the e)activeness of online education, studies show that the increase in eLearning has resulted in a 30% increase of failing grades. On the other hand, 48% of undergrad students felt like online learning was as e)active as face-to-face education