Here at The University of Texas at Tyler you can get your education in many ways. Whether it be through through lecture in an actual classroom setting, a strictly online course,or even a hybrid course which is part online part in the classroom, you can get the required course credits you need. Some students learn better while sitting in a classroom listening to the teacher lecture while some students do prefer the freedom of taking an online course.
So what are the pros to taking an online course versus a classroom lecture?
1) Convenience - you have the freedom to study and do the course work when you choose as long as you get it done before the due date. You also get to stay in your own house and get your work done instead of having to take the time to come to the campus and sit through a class. These classes are very nice for those students who have a family or a full time job because when they have free time they can work on their assignments. However, the convenience of online courses can quickly turn into a disadvantage; if you're not good at organizing and managing your time.
2) Control - While taking an online course you can learn at your own pace. You can also just skim over the materials you already know or are good at.
3) Connection - Although you are in an online course you still have a professor who expects you to interact with them and with your peers through group discussions.
4) Cost - At a tradition institution online courses are more times than not less expensive. Along with the school not charging as much you will save on transportation and parking because you have the convenience of the class right at your fingertips.
While those are just a few of the pros that I could come up with for taking an online course, there are also pros to taking classroom lecture courses rather than an online course.
1) Interaction - Although it may be a hassle to come to class, while you are in a classroom setting you get to interact with other students and meet new people. Many times you make friends or join study groups while in the classroom which always helps.
2) Face to Face - Some students do require to see a professor for their learning's because it helps them learn better and it requires immediate feedback and answers to their question. When you do see your professor all the time they get to know your name and face which helps with your learning and needs.
3) Structure - There is no need to worry about forgetting to submit an assignment or read a lecture because you already have that time set aside for the class and studies.
4) Technology Issues - While taking an online course you have to make sure you have Internet connection and worry about technical issues happening, but when you are in the actual classroom environment there will be no need to worry because if something happens to your computer in the room the teacher can see what happened and be more willing to help.
No I am not saying one way of learning is better than the other. It all depends on you as a student and how you learn better. I am currently enrolled in 2 online courses and 4 classroom courses. I enjoy all of my classes this semester, but I feel that the ones that are offered online would be boring if they were in an actual classroom, and the ones that are offered in the classroom would be too hard if I had to take them without being able to see my teacher!
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