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A Traditional Class vs. an Online Class

As technology progresses substantially, it has bearings on every area of our life, even on

the way of learning. At present, we could either attend traditional classes in brick-and-

mortar learning institutions, or virtual classes in online universities and colleges. Despite

sharing some superficial similarities, the differences between a traditional class and an

online class are remarkable. Both types of learning require instruction from teachers, and

have comparable method of assessments. Though, they differ from one another in terms

of scheduling, learning process, and communication.

The first distinction between a traditional class and an online class is scheduling.

Traditional class requires a fixed place or environment for learning and teaching. This

restricts the number of students that can study at the same time. Number of students

would depend on the size of class and learning institution. Furthermore, traditional class

is not flexible as it requires the students and teachers to attend a particular place at

specific times. For example, students of traditional class have the responsibility to show

up for class to meet attendance requirement (Quality Distance Education at your

Fingertips, n.d.). Therefore it is not convenient for full-time workers since they would

have difficulties in arranging free time to attend the class. On the other hand, online class

allows unlimited number of students learn at the same time, which only requires

connection to the network for accessing into the virtual class. It is also possible that

students from different countries gather in one class. Students can allocate their time

easily to pursue their studies in virtual classes. This is because online environment does

offer distinct opportunities for flexible, student-centered learning. Logan, Elisabeth,

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Rebecca Augustyniak, and Alison Rees (2002), as cited by Driscoll et al. (2012), says that

within online class, students are required to take responsibility for their own education

and are forced to be proactive in the learning process. In short, flexibility of online

classes allows students to attend classes at anytime and anywhere, whereas students of

traditional classes need to comply with rigid time table for completing their studies.

Learning process is another aspect that differs online class from traditional class;

nevertheless they are similar in term of way in accessing for information. For traditional

class, students would need to go to brick-and-mortar learning institution for pursuing

their studies. Traditional class would be more book-approached. Materials like lecture

notes, tutorial notes, reference books, and text books are necessary for traditional classes.

Library is the place which students could find more information about courses. Journals,

reference books, dictionaries and dissertations are available in library which students can

turn to. By contrast, the learning process of online class basically relies on the computer

and Internet. All materials of studies are basically available in online classes and other

external websites. Distance learners should be independent and highly-discipline in order

to achieve outstanding online learning (Kokemuller, n.d.). Only perseverance can

promise for the success of online learning. James and Gardner (1995), as cited by Diaz

and Cartnal (1999), mentions that students that favour of reliance on independent

learning skills would be more suited to an online class. Besides, online class can

frequently schedule real-time discussion to do their assignment or project while

traditional class discussion normally required participants to show up. Blackmore (1996),

as cited by Diaz and Cartnal (1999), recommends that the thing teachers can do to aid the

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learning process is simply to be alert that there are diverse learning styles in the student

population. However, students of both types of classes could reach to same platform to

access for information, which is the Internet. Both types of learning need students to surf

Internet to gain more knowledge regarding on particular matters of subjects. Therefore,

students can feel the distinction between traditional classes and online classes in term of

learning process, yet Internet is the common ground for students of both classes to gain

more knowledge on course.

There is considerable distinction in term of method of communication between traditional

class and online class, yet both of them share same objective, which is delivering the

information to the student. Traditional class applies face-to-face learning method that

allows teacher interact directly with students. For instance, students could meet up with

the instructors either in class or during consultation hour. Students could also have

informal communication with peers as they could meet up with peers in person frequently

in traditional classes. On the contrary, online class is devoid of direct interaction between

students and teacher. Usually, formal communication takes place in virtual classes.

Students would need to communicate with instructors and peers via e-mail, social

network, or in class discussion forum. According to Clark-Ibáñez and Scott (2008),

instructors of traditional classes could observe their students by looking and interpreting

students’ facial expressions or signs of inattention, in which they could then react

immediately to rectify matters that may have gone amiss, unlike online class. In contrast,

the online environment could provide a more comfortable venue for participation among

students who are shy or lack of confidence and who may be intimidated by the public

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setting of a face-to-face classroom (Driscoll et al., 2012). Nevertheless, both types of

communication are necessary to convey message to students so that students can gain

more knowledge in their studies. Hence, communication in both traditional class and

online class is significant although communication in traditional class is more direct and

informal than online class.

There are several resemblances between traditional class and online class, apart from the

significant distinctions discussed. Teacher instruction is indispensable in both traditional

class and online class. Both types of learning fully rely on teaching from professors or

lecturers. Instructors play crucial roles in conveying information and guiding students

throughout the course. In traditional class, instructors would need to turn up for class and

present learning materials. Students would need to attend traditional classes regularly to

gain more knowledge regarding their courses. Goodlad (1984), as cited by Relan and

Gillani (1997), depicts scenario for “traditional class instruction”: Not "how" but "what'

to learn dominated consistently. Teachers and students were busy covering' what was set

forth in the textbooks and workbooks. Students were moderately busy on assignments

predetermined by teachers. Generally, the subject matter studied appeared to be remote

from daily concerns and interests of the students (Goodlad, 1984, pp. 13-14). As for

online classes, an online learner can view the learning materials at his or her own

convenience as there are several instructors who present the learning materials in live

mode, have pre-recorded their lectures, or even interact one-on-one with students

(Tucker, n.d.). Nevertheless, instructors should play as mentors of distance learners by

providing academic assistance and encouraging students to participate actively in online

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forum or discussions on the subject of their courses (Stansfield et al., 2004). In short,

students are required to interact with instructors and glean information in both traditional

class and virtual class.

In addition, both types of learning have same method of assessments which comprise of

formal tests and assignments (Is Online for Me? Classroom vs. Online, 2013). Therefore

whether online class or traditional class is being chosen, there would be an assignment to

be completed and the assignment must be instructed by the teachers. For the traditional

class, students can often grade each other’s work or edit each other’s written assignment

but online class can hardly to carry out this task, unless students send the assignment

electronically to each other. However, peer-review assignment nowadays is not only

available for traditional classes, but also for online class. For example, most assignments

of online courses available in Coursera, a free online education platform, offer peer

assessments, in which students would use grading rubric to rate other assessments from

other students (Pedagogy, n.d.). In addition, both classes also have the similarity that

tests are conducted to identify what have students really understand from the courses.

Teacher sets the time limits for the test completion and the test can be either closed-book

or open-book exam (Tucker, n.d.). Students would have to sit for tests in their respective

learning institutions. On the contrary, tests conducted in online class are quite exclusive.

For instance, for distance learners of online courses of University of Delaware could take

tests through ProctorU.com, a platform which students can complete tests at home online.

Webcam and microphone are required for the online tests, and per-exam fee is charged

(University of Delaware Online Exams, n.d.). It is very obvious that method of

assessments of both traditional class and online class is identical.

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As conclusion, we could experience several distinctions between traditional class and

online class, like fixed scheduling versus flexible scheduling, book-based learning

process versus technology-based learning process, and face-to-face communication

versus online communication. Nevertheless, these differences do not extinguish their

similarities, in which both types of learning rely on instructions from teachers, and have

same method of assessment. Both traditional class and online class have same purpose: to

convey information to learners. Learning plays a significant role in our life, and

knowledge is an asset for us which could be used to deal with daily occurrences. As we

have concerned, only different particular characters would suit to either traditional class

or online class. Hence, we would need to identify our personality and preference before

making choice between these two alternatives.

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