online learning vs in person essay

Education Theory for Online Learning Words: 590
Information Technology Enabled Online Learning Words: 1099
Why More and More Students Are Taking Online Classes? Words: 588
Pros and Cons of Online Learning Words: 1102
Online Learning Technologies Words: 842
Theories, Tools, and Principles of Online Learning Words: 832
Learning Methods: Online Learning Words: 928
Benefits, Challenges, and Opportunities of Distance Learning Words: 2787
Distance Learning vs. The Traditional Classroom Words: 1198
Online vs. In-Person Learning: Comparison & Contrast Words: 905

Online Learning vs. In-Person Learning

With the rapid evolution of technology observed over the past couple of decades, the realm of education has been changed drastically, with innovative techniques, approaches, and tools being incorporated into the process. However, of all changes that the realm of education has experienced, the creation of online learning spaces is, perhaps, the most significant. Although the goals of online learning are precisely the same as those of offline one, the methods with the help of which teachers and students arrive at set goals are strikingly different. Due to the greater range of flexibility in online learning, it can offer better opportunities for time management and the creation of a personalized learning approach, whereas in-person learning provides a teacher with better control over the class.

Starting with the in-person learning as the most common type of education, one should address the opportunity to control the extent of students’ motivation and engagement carefully, adjusting the teaching approach accordingly. Since offline learning does not imply the same amount of control due to the restricted communication options and challenges in applying nonverbal communication techniques for spotting changes in learners’ attitudes, a teacher may have reduced control over the learners’ engagement in the offline setting. However, arguably, the extent of control over the learning process restricts the opportunities for building learners’ agency and implementing the guided discovery approach, where students take initiative in exploring the subject matter. Therefore, the level of control as an advantage is a rather contestable point.

In turn, the online learning setting has a range of advantages to offer both to students and to educators. The issue of time management is the most obvious one since, unlike the in-person learning process, students do not have to move from one room to another when switching from one class to another, which saves a significant amount of time. Additionally, learning in a familiar setting will imply a greater extent of comfort and, thus, will lead to increased motivation. One could argue that, unlike a classroom, which is always kept tidy and arranged in the way that allows maximizing its utility for learning, the home setting may be quite cluttered and not ergonomic enough to encourage learners to focus on studying. Therefore, online learning can also boast a more rational approach toward arranging the learning setting.

Given the range of characteristics mentioned above and the current focus on building independence, self-sufficiently, and agency in learners, the choice of the online setting appears to be more beneficial. Once a proper leadership approach to motivating students is developed, a teacher can utilize a broad range of tools and offer learning experiences that will be conducive to building academic curiosity in students. As a result, the online learning process needs to be considered as the next chapter in improving the current education system and promoting enhanced learning with additional opportunities for building critical skills.

Since offline learning does not require spatial arrangements, it offers greater flexibility both to students and to teachers, which improves time management; however, offline learning creates premises for better control over students. Thus, online learning can be considered more challenging in keeping learners motivated and engaged, which calls for the implementation of an appropriate leadership strategy and the development of interactive exercises that help students to remain proactive. Therefore, both types of learning have their advantages, yet online learning should be viewed as the course for the future development of the academic environment due to the potential that it offers for shared learning.

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Online college classes can be better than in-person ones. The implications for higher ed are profound.

Subscribe to the center for technology innovation newsletter, john villasenor john villasenor nonresident senior fellow - governance studies , center for technology innovation.

February 10, 2022

When the Covid pandemic started in early 2020, colleges shifted to remote learning out of necessity. With large in-person gatherings in classrooms suddenly off-limits, online instruction was viewed as the lesser of two evils—inferior to in-person classes, but infinitely better than no classes at all.

Two years later, something unexpected has happened. For many college courses, online instruction is proving to be far more effective than many people anticipated. Why? One key reason is that today’s communications networks and consumer devices enable much higher quality telepresence than was possible a decade ago. But another reason is that due to the pandemic, enormous numbers of students and instructors have gained proficiency with online learning software.

In particular, the mass adoption of Zoom in higher education has created a network effect where its utility as an instructional tool is amplified by the number of people who have become familiar with using it. The quality of a well-run synchronous (i.e., live, as opposed to pre-recorded) online class can now rival—and in some respects exceed—the quality of the in-person equivalent.

Supporting a broader range of learning styles

Synchronous online instruction allows a richer set of interactions. When I am teaching online, the Zoom “chat” window often becomes a nonstop stream of insightful ideas, reactions, and web links provided by students. Rather than distracting from the course, the chat dialog enriches it. Students ask and answer questions from me and from each other, offer thoughts, and react to posts from their peers. In a recent class discussion regarding the First Amendment, as soon as I mentioned several related Supreme Court cases, one of the students dropped links to the rulings into the chat. There’s simply no analog to this parallel form of engagement in a traditional in-person class.

I’ve also found that there are students who are reticent about speaking up during in-person classes, but comfortable using the chat function in online classes to provide written comments or questions. It makes me wonder: How many thoughtful, interesting perspectives went unexpressed in my pre-pandemic in-person classes? Clearly, there must have been students in those classrooms who would have been happy to provide their ideas in written form had that been feasible, but who instead stayed silent because it was not.

Another advantage of online instruction is the expanded ability to invite non-local guest speakers. In the past two years, I have hosted speakers in my online UCLA classes from as far away as Argentina. I now marvel at the time inefficiency of some of the pre-pandemic trips that I made when I was a guest speaker—when I would spend a full day, and sometimes more, to take a round trip plane flight in order to spend 90 minutes in a classroom at another university. It’s asking a lot to expect a guest speaker to devote that much time in order to participate in a single class meeting. By contrast, online guest appearances take only an hour or two of the speaker’s time, making the universe of people who are available to speak vastly larger.

In addition, at the many colleges that currently require students and instructors to be masked while in a physical classroom, there’s another advantage to online instruction that’s so obvious and fundamental that it often goes unstated: it’s a lot easier to understand what someone is saying when you can see their face.

Recognition of the potential advantages of online instruction isn’t new. A paper published back in 2001 noted that online courses could “address a variety of learning styles,” allow “access to a larger variety of quality resources,” and enable instructors to “use creative teaching methods in delivering material.” Due to the pandemic-induced mass adoption of online college instruction, those predictions have proven to be true on a scale that would have been hard to imagine two decades ago.

Challenges in online learning environments

Of course, online learning has downsides as well. As a 2018 paper addressing “Online learning in higher education” put it, “an online environment might benefit certain types of engagement, but may also be somewhat of a deterrent to others.”

A key disadvantage to online instruction is that there are categories of courses for which it falls woefully short—think chemistry laboratories, studio art classes, and the like. An additional vitally important concern is that online learning can be isolating. An online class doesn’t allow the level of spontaneous interactions among students that occur before, in, and after in-person class meetings. That’s an important mechanism for students to find study partners and teammates for class projects, and more generally to socialize and to get to know their peers.

There are also well-documented equity concerns with online learning , including the fact that not all students have a home with access to reliable internet and a computer. But there are also equity issues on the other side of the ledger. Not all students are in a position to live on-campus or within easy commuting distance of one. And some students have caregiving responsibilities for a young child or elderly relative that limit their flexibility for leaving home. For those students, it can be more equitable to offer online instruction than to require their presence in a physical classroom.

Rethinking college online instruction

The bottom line is that the preconceived notions that I and many others in higher education had about the supposedly unambiguous inferiority of online classes have proven to be wrong. Unfortunately, few college administrators are likely to acknowledge the advantages of synchronous online instruction. Doing so would call into question the entire model of the residential college—a concept that is a multi-billion-dollar business, a central feature of the American cultural landscape, and a rite of passage all rolled up into one.

But a more objective, pandemic-seasoned appraisal of online learning would admit that thanks to technology, the campus classroom—the actual and symbolic core around which all that college has come to mean is constructed—no longer needs to be a physical room. We are probably not ready to imagine how higher education might look if it were redesigned from the ground up, taking full advantage of the opportunities created by technology to maximize student engagement and instructional quality, accessibility, and equity.

One thing is sure: It would look very different from the higher education ecosystem we have today.

How Effective Is Online Learning? What the Research Does and Doesn’t Tell Us

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series on the practical takeaways from research.

The times have dictated school closings and the rapid expansion of online education. Can online lessons replace in-school time?

Clearly online time cannot provide many of the informal social interactions students have at school, but how will online courses do in terms of moving student learning forward? Research to date gives us some clues and also points us to what we could be doing to support students who are most likely to struggle in the online setting.

The use of virtual courses among K-12 students has grown rapidly in recent years. Florida, for example, requires all high school students to take at least one online course. Online learning can take a number of different forms. Often people think of Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs, where thousands of students watch a video online and fill out questionnaires or take exams based on those lectures.

In the online setting, students may have more distractions and less oversight, which can reduce their motivation.

Most online courses, however, particularly those serving K-12 students, have a format much more similar to in-person courses. The teacher helps to run virtual discussion among the students, assigns homework, and follows up with individual students. Sometimes these courses are synchronous (teachers and students all meet at the same time) and sometimes they are asynchronous (non-concurrent). In both cases, the teacher is supposed to provide opportunities for students to engage thoughtfully with subject matter, and students, in most cases, are required to interact with each other virtually.

Coronavirus and Schools

Online courses provide opportunities for students. Students in a school that doesn’t offer statistics classes may be able to learn statistics with virtual lessons. If students fail algebra, they may be able to catch up during evenings or summer using online classes, and not disrupt their math trajectory at school. So, almost certainly, online classes sometimes benefit students.

In comparisons of online and in-person classes, however, online classes aren’t as effective as in-person classes for most students. Only a little research has assessed the effects of online lessons for elementary and high school students, and even less has used the “gold standard” method of comparing the results for students assigned randomly to online or in-person courses. Jessica Heppen and colleagues at the American Institutes for Research and the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research randomly assigned students who had failed second semester Algebra I to either face-to-face or online credit recovery courses over the summer. Students’ credit-recovery success rates and algebra test scores were lower in the online setting. Students assigned to the online option also rated their class as more difficult than did their peers assigned to the face-to-face option.

Most of the research on online courses for K-12 students has used large-scale administrative data, looking at otherwise similar students in the two settings. One of these studies, by June Ahn of New York University and Andrew McEachin of the RAND Corp., examined Ohio charter schools; I did another with colleagues looking at Florida public school coursework. Both studies found evidence that online coursetaking was less effective.

About this series

This essay is the fifth in a series that aims to put the pieces of research together so that education decisionmakers can evaluate which policies and practices to implement.

The conveners of this project—Susanna Loeb, the director of Brown University’s Annenberg Institute for School Reform, and Harvard education professor Heather Hill—have received grant support from the Annenberg Institute for this series.

To suggest other topics for this series or join in the conversation, use #EdResearchtoPractice on Twitter.

Read the full series here .

It is not surprising that in-person courses are, on average, more effective. Being in person with teachers and other students creates social pressures and benefits that can help motivate students to engage. Some students do as well in online courses as in in-person courses, some may actually do better, but, on average, students do worse in the online setting, and this is particularly true for students with weaker academic backgrounds.

Students who struggle in in-person classes are likely to struggle even more online. While the research on virtual schools in K-12 education doesn’t address these differences directly, a study of college students that I worked on with Stanford colleagues found very little difference in learning for high-performing students in the online and in-person settings. On the other hand, lower performing students performed meaningfully worse in online courses than in in-person courses.

But just because students who struggle in in-person classes are even more likely to struggle online doesn’t mean that’s inevitable. Online teachers will need to consider the needs of less-engaged students and work to engage them. Online courses might be made to work for these students on average, even if they have not in the past.

Just like in brick-and-mortar classrooms, online courses need a strong curriculum and strong pedagogical practices. Teachers need to understand what students know and what they don’t know, as well as how to help them learn new material. What is different in the online setting is that students may have more distractions and less oversight, which can reduce their motivation. The teacher will need to set norms for engagement—such as requiring students to regularly ask questions and respond to their peers—that are different than the norms in the in-person setting.

Online courses are generally not as effective as in-person classes, but they are certainly better than no classes. A substantial research base developed by Karl Alexander at Johns Hopkins University and many others shows that students, especially students with fewer resources at home, learn less when they are not in school. Right now, virtual courses are allowing students to access lessons and exercises and interact with teachers in ways that would have been impossible if an epidemic had closed schools even a decade or two earlier. So we may be skeptical of online learning, but it is also time to embrace and improve it.

A version of this article appeared in the April 01, 2020 edition of Education Week as How Effective Is Online Learning?

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Remote vs In-person Classes: Positive and Negative Aspects Essay

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Introduction

Positive aspects of remote classes, negative aspects of remote classes, a mix of remote and in-person classes.

Educators and learners approach the new normal of remote learning with concern or enthusiasm, optimistically or skeptically. While each of them might have genuine concerns, it is essential to open-mindedly understand the advantages and disadvantages online learning creates for both learners and teachers. There are always pros and cons for every good or bad idea, and remote classes are no different. Students, instructors, and all stakeholders in the American education sector must weigh the pros against the cons of developing a resilient model for today’s learning environment.

Remote classes allow students to access learning materials at any time, from wherever they are, and at their speed. Such access creates high levels of convenience and efficiency in place and time, enabling learners to study at the best pace and style. Online class discussion forums support high-quality conversations and are student-centered (Criollo-C et al., 2018). The asynchronous nature of discussion forums gives learners time to understand and reflect on posts from their instructor or fellow students before offering their comments or feedback. Traditional in-person classes require learners to respond on the spot, which gives them limited time for the articulation of ideas and forethought.

Educators reap the benefits of remote classes through higher creativity in content delivery and learners’ engagement. Instructors have to match their lesson delivery to the self-directed and self-autonomous nature of online classes, which include interactive environments (Mukhtar et al., 2020). Unlike in-person classes, remote classrooms require educators to upgrade their instruction styles, and course objectives, and create new content suitable for the online learning environment (Mukhtar et al., 2020). For example, while in-person classes do not require video lessons, some concepts must be demonstrated in videos for online learners. Traditionally, in-person presentations could not be repeated in front of learners but now students can watch the uploaded video as many times as necessary to understand a concept.

Limitations around technology, accessibility, and equity are the major drawbacks of remote classes. Both learners and educators should have access to an internet connection to participate in classes. Logistic, technical, and economic reasons can hinder access to the learning environment (Criollo-C et al., 2018). Successful remote learning should establish mechanisms to restore access as quickly as possible to ensure equal learning opportunities for all students. Computer literacy levels might also limit the use of the classroom features and functionalities for both educators and learners, lest they drag down the program. Technology failures pose a threat to accessibility as such systems are bound to experience downtimes, only when such failures will occur is unpredictable (Mukhtar et al., 2020). Such failures can occur at the individual or school level, ranging from personal computer (PC) problems, server crashes, network downtimes, and software malfunctions.

While online learning creates convenience and independence, individual educators and students might lack the qualities necessary to succeed in the environment. The autonomous and asynchronous nature of remote learning requires highly responsible and disciplined students, who have excellent organizational and time management skills (Mukhtar et al., 2020). Dependent and young learners may not succeed in such an environment. Educators must receive adequate training to ensure a successful transition from physical to online teaching. The instructors should be good at written communication and create a supportive environment to compensate for the lack of physical closeness (Mukhtar et al., 2020). Nevertheless, a supportive environment cannot replace physical classrooms and some students might feel left out.

School should not be 100% remote or in-person but a hybrid of the two environments. Instructional and learning models cannot be translated from physical to remote classes without adjustments. Additionally, hands-on and practical subjects that require practice and movement to achieve learning cannot be successfully conducted online (Hapke et al., 2020). Young and dependent learners require physically present instructors to support their learning. My school design would incorporate both remote and in-person classes for all the students. I would want dependent and young learners to take partial online classes to gain experience with digital education tools but most of their learning would be in physical classrooms. Hands-on and practical classes would be 80% in-person and 20% online. For all other classes, I would require students to have physical mid and end of term exams and project presentations while everything else is completed virtually. Therefore, every learner would have an experience with both in-person and remote classes.

Hybrid classes will reduce school dropout and absenteeism, which are typical in purely remote and in-person learning, respectively. The hybrid style will also enhance the usage of resources as most of the students learn remotely and relieve resources to utilize for the practical subjects (Hapke et al., 2020). For example, staff will not be overworking and teachers will have time to create quality content for online learners. Physical classrooms will also be free for the learners in practical subjects, which is a vital resource for maintaining safe social distance during this pandemic period (Hapke et al., 2020). In comparison to pure in-person learning, hybrid learning expands access beyond geographical boundaries. Therefore, a hybrid model of virtual and in-person classes is the best school design for the current generation.

Teachers and students might have concerns about online learning vs. in-person classes. Virtual classes have their benefits and drawbacks, as well as physical classrooms. It is essential to open-mindedly understand the advantages and disadvantages online learning creates for both stakeholders. All the parties involved in the American education sector must weigh the pros against the cons of developing a resilient model for today’s learning environment. Additionally, school administrators must consider the value of hybrid environments.

Criollo-C, S., Luján-Mora, S., & Jaramillo-Alcázar, A. (2018). Advantages and disadvantages of M-learning in current education . In 2018 IEEE World Engineering Education Conference (EDUNINE), 1-6. IEEE.

Hapke, H., Lee-Post, A., & Dean, T. (2020). 3-in-1 hybrid learning environment. Marketing Education Review , 1-8.

Mukhtar, K., Javed, K., Arooj, M., & Sethi, A. (2020). Advantages, limitations and recommendations for online learning during COVID-19 pandemic era . Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences , 36 (COVID19-S4), 27.

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Online Vs in Person Classes: a Paradigm Shift in Education

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Oline vs in person classes: definitions and comparison, to what extent can online classes replace traditional classroom, is online education is more effective that in person classes.

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Home Essay Samples Education Online vs. Traditional Classes

Online Classes or Traditional Classroom: An Argumentative Examination of Learning Formats

Table of contents, advantages of online classes, benefits of traditional classroom settings, drawbacks of online classes, challenges of traditional classroom settings, 1. flexibility and convenience, 2. accessibility, 3. personalized learning, 1. in-person interaction, 2. structured learning, 3. social and emotional development, 1. lack of in-person interaction, 2. self-discipline challenges, 3. technical issues, 1. rigidity and accessibility, 2. limited personalization, 3. reduced flexibility.

Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2013). Changing course: Ten years of tracking online education in the United States. Babson Survey Group.
Cavanaugh, J. (2001). The effectiveness of interactive distance education technologies in K-12 learning: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Educational Telecommunications, 7(1), 73-88.
Diaz, D. P., & Cartnal, R. B. (1999). Students’ learning styles in two classes: Online distance learning and equivalent on-campus. College Teaching, 47(4), 130-135.
Hurst, D. (2021). The Benefits of Traditional Classroom Learning. Bright Hub Education. https://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-methods-tips/40754-benefits-of-traditional-classroom-learning/
Rice, K. L. (2006). A comprehensive look at distance education in the K-12 context. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 38(4), 425-448.

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Distance/Online Learning vs. In Person Learning: Pros and Cons

The COVID-19 pandemic made distance learning part of our new normal. For many individuals with disabilities, this created unique opportunities as well as unique challenges. Whether you love learning from your couch or can’t wait to get back to meeting in-person, here are the benefits and challenges of online learning vs. in-person learning. We’ll also share some of our favorite tips for successful learning no matter where you are.

Advantages of Online Learning

One of the main advantages of online or distance learning is clear from the name. You can take a class or attend a meeting anywhere in the country – or even the world. With virtual classes, you can learn from anywhere as long as you have a reliable Internet connection. This can reduce transportation barriers.

If you’re taking a self-paced online class, you also have schedule flexibility. You can watch learning videos or read lessons whenever it’s convenient for you. Recordings and online content can also provide more options for using accessibility technology, such as captioning, transcripts, or screen readers. With self-paced classes, you can pause, rewind, or slow down recorded videos or screen readers as needed.

Disadvantages of Online Learning

It can be significantly more difficult to teach physical skills, such as knitting or cooking, when you aren’t able to see and feel the materials personally. The benefits of peer modeling or simply enjoying other people’s company while you learn are difficult to replicate on Zoom or a digital classroom. You may have to deal with technology failures, such as the Wi-Fi going down or certain software not working properly.

While you may gain flexibility when it comes to location and scheduling, those factors also provide much-needed structure. You may feel less motivated to show up to an online class or make time to learn on your own, compared to attending an in-person meeting with your friends or community members.

Success Tips for Online Learning

Make a schedule for learning, even with self-paced courses.
Ask your instructor for accessible materials, or for the standard materials ahead of time so you can apply the accessibility technology that you need.
Set Set SMART goals for your learning and make a plan to reach them.

Advantages of In-Person Learning

There are many advantages to learning in-person. You can get immediate support from the instructor, which is particularly important if you’re learning a new skill. When you meet in-person, you can use all five senses to learn about something instead of just sight and sound.

Communication can also be easier in-person than over the Internet. It’s often easier to see and interpret nonverbal cues, such as eye contact and facial expressions, in-person. This gives students a way to ask for the support they need even if they don’t feel fully comfortable asking out loud.

In-person learning can adapt to more learning styles. Most people learn best by doing, rather than reading or watching content. During in-person learning, you can practice new skills with other people, do hands-on experiments, and learn from the experiences of others around you.

Disadvantages of In-Person Learning

The biggest limitation of in-person learning is the need to be at the physical location where the class or event is taking place. This means you can only access learning opportunities that are nearby. Or you will need to travel, which can be expensive, time-consuming, and stressful.

You are also bound by the meeting schedule. You will need to show up at a set time for the class, even if you’re tired, hungry, or want to be somewhere else.

You and the instructor may need to put in more effort to make the class more accessible. It can be hard to generate captions or use a screen reader when someone is presenting live. You may need to work with an interpreter or other educational aide instead.

Success Tips for In-Person Learning

Put the class meeting times in your phone calendar or planner.
Prepare for class by completing your assignments and bringing the materials you will need.
Ask the instructor and your support network for help understanding the content and completing assignments.

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Home > Blog > Tips for Online Students > Tips for Students > In-person Learning v/s Online Learning: What’s Better?

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In-person Learning v/s Online Learning: What’s Better?

Updated: June 19, 2024

Published: April 19, 2022

In-person Learning v/s Online Learning: What’s Better? Hero Image

When you think of education, you likely picture a classroom setting with a teacher upfront by the board and students watching the lecture or lesson. The typical picture of in-person learning has shifted greatly, however, with the advent of online learning and the power of technology.

For anyone who is questioning whether online learning or in-person instruction is better, we are going to share the pros and cons of each learning environment.

What is In-Person Learning?

In-person learning is just what it sounds like – it’s learning that takes place face-to-face. This means that instruction and learning happen in the same place and at the same time.

What is Online Learning?

Thanks to technological innovations, online learning is growing in popularity. Online learning is education that happens over the internet. It’s also called remote learning, e-learning, or distance learning.

Online learning may be synchronous learning or asynchronous . Synchronous learning describes any type of education or instruction that occurs at the same time, but not in the same place. For example, learning is considered synchronous if a lesson is taught via online video streaming from a teacher who is in one location to the students who are all logging on to learn from home. Asynchronous learning happens when both learning and instruction occur at different locations and also at different times. This could be the case when a teacher records a lecture and students log on to view it at a later time.

Pros of In-Person Learning

Let’s consider some of the benefits of in-person learning:

Academic experience

Some people look forward to the academic experience they have when they are in-person with their peers and instructor. For some, it’s because it allows for hands-on learning and collaboration with peers at the same time and in the same place. For others, they may feel more comfortable asking questions in-person. When it comes to college, some students want the experience of living in a dorm, sitting in lecture halls, partaking in labs, and engaging in social activities.

Distraction-free environment

Entering a classroom comes along with fewer distractions. The space is designed and intended for learning and since a teacher is there, you may feel more inclined to focus. It can be harder to be distracted by cellphones or anything else inside a classroom.

Cons of In-Person Learning

Now that we’ve covered the upsides of in-person instruction, it’s time to look at some of the drawbacks. After reading these drawbacks, it may become more clear why so many people are eager to learn online.

Lack of scheduling control

When it comes to learning within an institution’s walls, students have no say as to when or where the class is offered. You simply receive a schedule and have to be there at that time. This can clash with one’s existing responsibilities.

More expensive

In the case of college, in-person learning tends to be much more expensive than online alternatives. That’s mostly because schools have high overhead costs, but they also can charge the tuition and fees that they want to, especially when they are privately owned.

Commuting time

Since you have to be in a designated space at a certain time for traditional in-person learning, you have to factor in commuting time (and costs).

Pros of Online Learning

In 2021, 75% of schools planned to operate online in the United States. Granted, the pandemic had a major impact on this decision, but even so, many students realized the benefits of learning online (just as people witnessed how it was to work from home).

The benefits of online learning are plenty and include:

Flexibility

Since education takes place online, you have more flexibility in setting your own schedule. This is especially the case with pre-recorded lectures. Even without pre-recorded lectures, you have more flexibility in your schedule because you don’t have to commute anymore to a location to learn.

Accessibility

For students in many countries, obtaining an education seems like a dream when there are no physical school locations or geographical barriers to making it to a specific place. With online learning, accessibility to education has been maximized, allowing for people from all over to take part in obtaining an education.

Cost-effective

Given less overhead costs, online education tends to be much more cost-effective than in-person learning. In some cases, online learning can be totally free, such as from platforms like YouTube. If you’re seeking to earn a degree online, you can do so at a tuition-free institution like the University of the People.

Networking globally

Online learning removes geographic barriers. As such, you can learn alongside students from all over the world. The internet has made it possible to connect to people from every corner of the globe, and when it comes to doing so in an educational setting, students benefit from diverse perspectives. Additionally, you could connect with someone in another location that might become your next business partner or employer.

Cons of Online Learning

Despite the immense upsides of online learning, students need to be aware of potential hurdles. While all these are possible to overcome, it requires awareness and a desire to do so.

Technical issues

It’s of utmost importance that students who wish to learn online have the capability to do so with a strong internet connection and a compatible device. If technical issues occur, students should know what steps to take to resolve them in a timely manner so as to not miss out on learning.

Distractions

Since online learning can take place from anywhere, it’s up to students to choose a distraction-free environment. Check out these tips for finding a quiet study place near you.

Self-motivation

It takes self-motivation to succeed in any educational environment. But, when it comes to online learning, there may be a new level of self-motivation necessary since you have the freedom to choose when to learn and how much time you dedicate to doing so.

Closing Thoughts

When comparing in-person learning to online learning, it’s hard to say that one is better than the other. That’s because it typically comes down to a student’s preference.

As you can see from this entire article, there are pros and cons to both styles of learning. Depending on your unique situation, you can determine which feels more fitting for you and your goals.

If you’re interested in learning more about online, accredited, and tuition-free educational opportunities at the University of the People, check out our program offerings here !

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Weighing the Pros and Cons of Online vs. In-Person Learning

Whether you’re an undergraduate, graduate, or transfer student, you have multiple options when it comes to pursuing your degree. Not only are there hundreds of majors, minors, and concentrations to choose from — there are also different ways to pursue your degree, like going to class in person vs. taking courses online. So what are the pros and cons of online learning, and how do traditional, on-campus programs stack up?

We’ll compare the advantages and drawbacks of both options in this guide so that you can make a more confident decision about which type of program is right for you. We’ll also share some statistics about online learning that might surprise you, along with a list of the top seven degrees to earn online in 2022. If you’re applying to colleges (or thinking about it), keep reading to learn why you should consider choosing an online degree or certificate program.

Should I Go to College Online or On Campus?

What are the benefits of online education.

What Are the Benefits of Taking Courses in Person?

What Are Some Potential Considerations of Attending College Online?

What are some potential considerations of attending college on-campus.

What Degrees Can You Get Online?
Earn Your Degree Online or On-Campus at National University

Is it better to go to college online or on campus? It depends on what you’re looking for in a program and what criteria are most important to you. For example, online programs simultaneously make it more convenient and more affordable to attend classes and earn your degree — especially if you’re already busy working full-time or raising a family. Additionally, an online program may enable you to earn your degree faster than a traditional program, so that you can become qualified for your dream career sooner. Learn more about how the four-week course structure at National University can help you graduate earlier, or read about how to qualify for our accelerated study option .

Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine whether an online or in-person program is the right choice — but you don’t have to make your decision without help. Our friendly enrollment counselors are here to answer all of your questions and provide you with detailed information about our online, on-campus, and hybrid programs. Contact our admissions office to request program information, or continue reading to learn more about the pros and cons of earning your degree online.

Distance education is becoming more popular among college students across the U.S., with 11.8 million undergraduates enrolled in online classes in 2020 compared to just 6 million — only about half as many — in 2019. Here are just a few of the reasons why so many students prefer online coursework.

1. Scheduling Flexibility

In a hectic, busy world, online courses offer unmatched convenience and flexibility. Whether you’re a night owl or a morning person, online classes allow you to log in and complete your work anywhere, anytime — all in your favorite pair of pajamas. Study on your schedule, without the need for a stressful, time-wasting commute.

2. Lower Tuition and Boarding Costs

Online students don’t have to pay for student housing, gas for commuting, or on-campus meal programs. That can translate to substantial savings, which is a major perk for cost-conscious students. Just think of what you could do with the money you’ll save on transit, food, and dorm living.

3. Increased Networking Opportunities

Online courses let you interact with students in remote locations all over the world. That could lead to professional opportunities you might not be exposed to in a traditional classroom setting. Online courses make it easy to be a passive participant, but for the investment you’re making, it’s much more fulfilling to take advantage of your networking opportunities.

4. Perfect for Busy Parents and Workers

Going to work or raising a family? Online courses let you build an education around your routine so that you don’t have to give up family time, hire expensive babysitters, or cut your hours at work. Distance education is ideal for anyone with a hectic or unpredictable calendar, from stay-at-home parents to busy freelancers. For example, many students attend online college while working full-time.

5. More Equitable, Accessible Learning

Another advantage of online classes is that they can open up more learning opportunities for students with disabilities, making postsecondary education more accessible and inclusive. Online courses allow students to learn at their own pace on their own schedule, which is an approach to studying known as asynchronous learning . This format empowers students to take notes, review lectures, and go over other course materials in a way that works best for them.

What Are the Benefits of Taking Courses in Person?

We’ve just discussed how the benefits of online learning include lower tuition costs, more flexible scheduling, and enhanced accessibility for students with disabilities. So what are some of the advantages that traditional classrooms or other in-person learning environments might offer?

1. Distraction-Free Environment

A successful education demands focus and concentration. Classrooms, laboratories, and lecture halls create tightly focused, distraction-free learning environments with all the tools and space you need, so that you can dedicate yourself to the lesson — not to that annoying car alarm, barking dog, or ringing phone in the background.

2. Hands-On Learning

Not every student learns the same way. Some people are visual learners, some people like to take detailed notes, and some people learn best from first-hand experience. Additionally, there are some disciplines that require hands-on experience, such as learning how to repair a machine or perform a medical procedure. If direct, hands-on learning opportunities are important to you, an on-campus degree program might make the better fit.

If you’re thinking about attending college online, it’s important to be aware of some potential considerations to online learning, which will enable you to make a more informed decision about your educational path. Here are a few challenges and considerations to prepare for if you’re pursuing an online degree, credential, or certificate program.

1. Tougher Technical Requirements

If you consider yourself more tech-challenged than tech-savvy, online learning might pose a few obstacles due to its heavy reliance on computer programs, which can be expensive to purchase and tough to navigate. Fortunately, there are countless resources to help you master the software you’ll need to succeed. In fact, many schools have dedicated IT departments and help desk services for students who may have issues with online learning portals, as well as troubleshooting guides.

2. Greater Need for Self-Motivation

For self-paced programs, you’ll need to employ some serious self-discipline to ensure you complete your work in a timely fashion. Without a rigid class schedule to push you to attend a class at a designated time and place every week, it may be harder to reap the full benefits that distance education has to offer if you tend to procrastinate.

3. Possible Distractions at Home

Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to have a serene home office or local park they can escape to. If your home environment is chaotic and full of distractions — such as screaming children, rowdy roommates, or the ever-present allure of having Netflix and video games in your direct line of sight — it might be a challenge to stay focused on your coursework.

4. Less Cooperation and Interaction with Peers

Write a new section about how in-person classes make it easy to collaborate in group projects, discussions, and small talk before and after class, but you have to work at communicating and building relationships with peers when taking an online program.

Now that we’ve examined both the pros and cons of online classes — along with some of the advantages of in-person learning — let’s complete our comparison by reviewing three potential drawbacks to earning your degree in a traditional, campus-based setting. You’ll need to factor higher costs into your academic budget, along with a daily or weekly commute — so why else might online learning be a better option for you?

1. Less Control Over Scheduling

In a traditional, on-campus degree program, you have much less control over when and where you attend classes than you would in an online program. If you have a crammed calendar, or if your availability tends to fluctuate — for instance, if you’re an independent contractor who goes through slow periods and busy periods — you might want to opt for an online program. This can grant you a greater degree of control over your class schedule.

2. Commuting to Classes

If you attend your classes in person, you’ll need to commute to and from campus. Depending on your living arrangements, that can guzzle up gas, time, and money — not to mention put you through stressful traffic jams every day. If you plan to enroll in an on-campus program, be sure to think carefully about the logistics around your daily commute.

3. Higher Tuition Expenses

Traditional students tend to have higher expenses due to factors such as student housing, on-campus meal programs, and public transit or gas for commuting.

What Degrees Can You Get Online?

If there’s one trait that online and in-person programs both share in common, it’s the sheer number of degrees that are available to students in either setting. For example, National University offers more than 45 accredited degree programs that are available 100% online, including graduate and undergraduate programs in marketing, nursing, engineering, law, computer science, psychology, and more. Use our program finder to explore the possibilities.

Top 7 Degrees to Earn Online

1. accounting.

National University offers graduate and undergraduate accounting programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Accounting (MAcc). Learn more about how to become an accountant by earning your degree online.

2. Business Administration

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) can increase your earning power substantially. According to MBA.com , reporting on a survey conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council, “[I]n 2021, the average starting salary for MBAs was between 22% and 40% higher than for bachelor graduates.” Earn your MBA online at National University, or build the foundation for a career in business by earning your Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA).

3. Computer Science

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer and information research scientists earned a median salary of more than $131,000 in 2021. Additionally, these fields are expected to grow by 21% from 2020 through 2030 — a rate that is considered “much faster than average” by the BLS — suggesting that there will be plentiful job opportunities for CS graduates in the coming years. Our programs allow students to earn a Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) or Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) 100% online.

4. Education

Educators are in high demand , especially in science, mathematics, and special education. The demand is particularly great in states like California, which is grappling with pronounced teacher shortages . NU offers numerous teaching credentials and certificate programs 100% online, along with education degrees that prepare students to become academic leaders and administrators. Earn your Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (BAECE), pursue your Master of Arts in Education (MAE), advance your teaching career with single-subject and multiple-subject credentials, or explore our other accredited program offerings.

5. Engineering

As an engineer, you have opportunities to explore interests that range from computing, mining, and nuclear energy to aerospace, chemistry, workplace safety, and the environment. According to BLS data , certain types of engineers — including nuclear, aerospace, and petroleum engineers — earn a median salary of over $120,000. Launch or advance your career in engineering through accredited online programs at NU, like our Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (BSECE) or Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM).

6. Marketing

A marketing degree, such as the Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications , equips students with the foundational skills for a broad range of careers, ranging from fundraising and event management to sales and public relations. According to the BLS , the median salary for professionals in the marketing, promotions, and management field was over $133,000 as of 2021, with “faster than average” (10%) job growth expected from 2020 to 2030.

Between a national nursing shortage and an aging population, nursing is one of the hottest careers you can kickstart online. The question is, which type of nurse will you train to become? NU offers a wide range of healthcare and nursing programs to help you advance academically and professionally, no matter what field you specialize in or where you’re looking to take your career. Explore our accredited programs in areas like healthcare administration , public health , nursing , and more.

Curious about these or other online and hybrid programs that might be a good fit for you? Explore the most in-demand bachelor’s degrees you can earn online — or, if you’re ready to apply to graduate programs, discover the best master’s degrees for the future .

Earn Your Degree Online or On-Campus at National University

Online degree programs have exploded in popularity since 2020. COVID-19 unquestionably accelerated these trends — but even with the pandemic now ebbing, online learning is here to stay. In fact, the demand for online education is growing, according to research from the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which reports that there’s been an “11% increase in total enrollment for [the] largest online universities” — and at the same time, a 3% decrease in enrollment overall. In other words, even with fewer students enrolling in colleges, online enrollment is still creeping upward, highlighting a steady cultural shift toward web-based or virtual models of learning.

Even though social distancing is now less of a concern, there are still clear benefits to choosing an online program, from saving money on board and tuition to gaining more control over your schedule. With all the practical, financial, and academic advantages that virtual learning has to offer, it’s no wonder why so many students are enrolling in online degree programs — or why Yahoo Finance has called online learning “the future of education,” while U.S. News has written that “online learning is reshaping higher education.”

Whether you pursue your degree online or on-campus, you’ll find dozens of fast-paced, accredited program options at National University. An early pioneer in distance education, we’ve been offering online programs for over 20 years. And with our commitment to making higher education affordable — a commitment we honor through scholarships , grants, and discounts for military students — it’s never been easier to jumpstart your future.

Find out what an education from National University can do for your career. Contact our admissions office to speak with an enrollment counselor, or start your application today.

Additional Sources

https://educationdata.org/online-education-statistics/

https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=80

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In-person vs. Online Learning: The Pros and Cons

Propelled by the global pandemic, online learning has come a long way, resulting in a vast range of options of formal education for potential business school students from in person classes, hybrid learning, or a fully remote online degree.

Whereas online learning compared to a traditional classroom setting was previously considered perhaps less engaging, business schools and students are now realizing the advantages. In fact, according to a recent report by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Business Graduate Association (BGA), 75% of business schools now use virtual classrooms.

Due to this rise in popularity of online classes and the learning curve of shifting to remote learning during Covid, business schools are enhancing the way they deliver online programs. 82% plan to invest more in EdTech – Educational Technology – to enhance the experience of online classes and ensure there is effective communication between faculty and students.

For example, INSEAD have invested in Virtual Reality (VR) to give students an immersive experience from their own homes. During lockdown, students were able to take part in interactive online courses that explored business cases in Singapore and Zanzibar.

These advancements mean that whether you decide to study your business degree online or in person, you'll be gaining a top-quality education that enhances your career prospects. So, how do you choose the right learning experience for you?

You'll need to think about whether the degree fits in with your lifestyle, if you want to travel to study or continue working, and if you learn more effectively from face-to-face interactions.

Here's everything to consider when deciding between in person classes vs online learning.

Which courses are on offer?

The first thing you should do is explore all the courses that are on offer from online to in person, MBA to EMBA.

More and more top business schools are introducing online learning to their offerings. For example, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania this year became the first M7 school to announce the launch of an online Executive MBA program.

The 22-month EMBA is set to launch in May 2023 and graduates from the program will earn that same quality degree as their full-time, in person counterparts. European top-ranked business schools such as Warwick Business School and Imperial College London offer online MBA programs.

The Financial Times Online MBA ranking 2022 names the top 10 distance learning MBA programs, if you need a good place to start.

Do your research

Once you have found some target business schools, take a closer look at what each course offers so you can make an informed decision. Many business school higher education programs involve hands on learning initiatives such as global immersions and trips.

On both the University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business full-time MBA program and Evening and Weekend MBA, which can be completed online, students can take part in an exchange program where they can study at partner schools in Hong Kong, Spain, France, or the UK.

There is also the chance for students to explore innovative business in Amsterdam or sustainable capitalism in Copenhagen as part of the programs.

Of course, for students taking online classes, this may mean having time out of work to travel but online students benefit from the same exciting opportunities as full-time students at many business schools.

How is the program delivered?

Everyone is receptive to learning in different ways, so choosing the format of teaching that is right for you is essential for staying focused.

While all graduate management programs require a lot of self-motivation, consider whether studying online and working more to your own schedule will require a higher degree of self-discipline and if this suits you.

When you attend in person classes, you'll meet regularly with your professors and cohort in set sessions throughout the week. During many MBA and EMBA programs, you'll also engage in group work on projects, interactive challenges, and attend in person recruitment events.

So, how is an online program delivered?

Fast-forward from the early days of the pandemic when online schooling largely meant logging into online classes via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, business schools have quickly become more innovative in delivering a high-quality, interactive learning environment.

The Warwick Business School Distance Learning MBA is ranked number one in the world by the Financial Times. Through an online learning platform that removes geographical barriers, students can connect with one another and their professors in real-time no matter where in the world they are. The platform also allows students to participate in global study groups.

Virtual classrooms also no longer require all students to be present at once, meaning you can structure your own class schedule around your work and personal life.

Some business school programs also offer a mix of both online and in person learning, known as hybrid learning. Duke Fuqua offers a 22-month weekend Executive MBA which combines three-day campus residences once a month with weekend distance learning sessions.

Last year, NYU Stern also introduced a hybrid MBA program. Students complete the core curriculum, which is the first half of the program, entirely online. The second half of the program is comprised of elective modules completed through week-long intensive in person classes or regular in person classes on evenings and Saturdays.

As with fully online programs, hybrid learning gives increased flexibility. This means that students can fit their learning around their personal life whilst still experiencing in person social interaction with other students.

Work out your time commitment

Whilst all graduate management education programs are time consuming, online learning courses are generally much more flexible than attending regular in person classes. So, if you are struggling with the time commitment, then this may be the better option for you.

With an online program, you have more control over how you fit your classes around your other commitments. So, unlike when you're studying a full-time MBA or EMBA program, online courses mean you can continue working alongside your degree.

You'll be able to upskill and apply your learning in your current role, perhaps even leading to a promotion.

However, an online MBA or EMBA program will usually also take longer to complete than in person classes. At Warwick Business School, the full-time MBA lasts one year whereas the Distance Learning MBA takes students two years to complete.

Consider whether you're willing to commit to studying and achieving your goals in the long-run, or if you want a fast-track to your dream career.

At some business schools such as INSEAD, students who enroll on the full-time MBA are able to accelerate the program, completing their education in just 10 months.

What is the best fit for your goals?

Before choosing between in person learning vs online learning, ask yourself: what are your goals? Are you making a career switch or seeking a promotion? What skills and experiences do you want to get from the program?

The answers to all these questions will influence your decision and ensure a successful learning experience.

If your goal is to network and build relationships, then attending business school in the traditional way may ensure stronger connections with your fellow students and faculty as you work on projects together and attend in person classes.

However, in response to the AMBA survey, 70% of business school leaders said international collaboration and being able to work more easily with international groups was a key benefit of online education. This is testament to the advancements in technology that have made online classes more cutting-edge and similar to learning in a physical classroom.

What's more, with a digital skills gap , exposure to new technologies through online education could help students develop the tech savvy skills needed in the new digital business landscape.

Your future career goals will also play into your decision. If you're making a big career switch, taking time out of work to immerse yourself in in person learning is probably the right path for you. You'll enhance your skillset and business acumen, as well as working closely with the careers team to tailor your experience towards a new career.

Whereas if you're seeking a big promotion or want to upskill at your current company, studying an online course will allow you to work at your own pace and manage your workload outside of your working hours.

At Washington University's Olin Business School, the online MBA program timeline is 30 months, but students can choose to take up to five years if they need to.

For every student, the choice between online learning and traditional learning will be entirely unique to your circumstances, career goals, and learning preferences. Yet, with any higher education program at top business schools, you'll be learning from successful academic leaders and gaining skills that will propel your career to new heights.

May 17, 2021

In-Person vs. Online Learning — Can They Compare?

Updated: Sep 22, 2023

Online vs. In-Person Class for Learning — What is Best?

Many may believe with the changes in the way students are being taught that there is one medium of teaching that is better than the other. As technology has developed, we’ve been able to connect with people all over the world through apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, Zoom, WeChat, etc. Needless to say, education has also evolved to connect students and instructors in virtual classrooms.

It’s clear that things are not the way they used to be before 2020, and many have debated whether or not in-person learning is better than online learning. But how do the two compare? Is one really better than the other?

What is the difference between in-person and online learning?

Online learning is exactly what it sounds like: classrooms and subject materials are all covered virtually. In-person learning is the traditional way of learning, where students attend face-to-face classes at allotted times. Let’s dig into the pros and cons of each type of learning environment.

Online courses offer Classroom setting Person classes Online education Students learn Online programs Face to face interaction Department of education Pros and cons Full time Students enrolled Online students Learning opportunities Person learning Online and in person Online class Offering online Online learning Hands-on learning

Pros of Online Classes

Throughout the course of the pandemic, there’s been an increase in students enrolling for online programs. According to InsideHigherEd , women and Black Americans prefer online learning. 60% of Black Americans have confidence in the quality of online education, and 48% (nearly half!) of women would choose to pursue an education online. With so many opting to pursue online degrees, what are the pros of online learning?

1) Virtual classrooms provide great accessibility for students .

Online classes open the gate for many people who don’t have the means to attend in-person classes or for people who want to go back to school, but may also have other commitments. Online education is great for single parents, military personnel, or full-time employees. Online courses offer the opportunity for a larger group of people to receive formal education. Ultimately, when the barriers of an in-person classroom are removed, all students benefit from the freedom of choosing when to do their coursework on an online platform.

2) Online classes offer self-paced learning and schedule flexibility .

For people who do not appreciate the structure of in-person classroom meetings, online learning is a great alternative. Students all work and learn at different paces , and online classes offer the ability for students to follow their own schedules. With flexible scheduling students can mold the classroom to whatever learning environment and class schedule works best for them.

3) Online learning can be cheaper than in-person learning .

Traditional schooling tends to be more expensive than online schooling because there are in person experience costs. This includes extracurriculars, dorming, dining halls, etc. These are all amenities that students are typically happy to pay for, but the realities of the pandemic lead many students to realize that their want for that experience is less significant. Prospective students now tend to enroll in online classes for the affordability of a formal education with increased convenience and decreased cost.

Cons of Online Classes

Despite the positive aspects of the virtual classroom setup, there are undeniably some things lacking that in-person classrooms have. It is important to note that regular online classes have a different set of downsides in comparison to online classes that had to shift rapidly due to the pandemic. Certain subjects had a more difficult time modifying to the online realm. Nonetheless, here are some of the drawbacks of online learning.

1) There’s been an increase in online fatigue.

If you heard the phrase ‘ Zoom fatigue ’ floating around the internet, that’s because it’s very real. After a whole year of online meetings, Zoom meetings, and whatever it may be, it can start to feel dreary. Every live meeting is the same each time with little simulation, so it’s unavoidable that we all will get online fatigue.

2) There can be a lack of engagement in virtual classrooms.

This is mainly because teacher/student or student/student relationships are hard to maintain virtually - or at least we have less practice in this new learning environment. It’s difficult to get to know people through video calls, and without a palpable connection, students tend to lose focus during online classes because it doesn’t matter to them. Students are also reluctant to learn when attending online classes because they know they’ll just have to watch and memorize along the way (a.k.a. passive learning ). When students do put in the effort to build relationships, they are usually hit with technical issues like spotty Wi-Fi, crunchy mic sounds, or awkward lags.

3) Certain subjects are hard to accommodate online.

Subjects like chemistry, nursing, or culinary arts have a hard time being translated into an online teaching method because, quite literally, those classes are hands-on and require a physical classroom . Instructors in these fields were not prepared for the abrupt changes of the pandemic, so it was difficult for them to come up with ways to teach their students through a screen. Students, as well, likely had a hard time learning because of the lack of materials they had at home.

Pros of In-Person Class

In person, instructors can actively monitor what is going on in the classroom, from discussions to exams to student relationships. Online learning takes away many of these factors. Let’s dig into the pros of in-person learning.

1) Being in person in a lecture makes it easier for instructors to conduct discussions.

For example, students benefit from live conversation on case studies and live role playing activities that can be very effective. When instructors engage students in conversation and see that other students have the same enthusiasm, it naturally pulls them into the conversation to learn as well. Effective communication is key to successful learning. Some instructors may prefer in person classes because they are able to control the dialogue in the classroom more fully than online.

2) There can be more community and relationship connection opportunities.

Without the right tools, building relationships online is often not as effective as building them in person. Connections and relationships can be a great resource or reference, and with in-person classes, they don’t have to feel like they are stuck in uncomfortable isolation. In person classes allow for the before and after chatter in a classroom, catching up on weekends and working through tough problems with fellow students. That chatter is what helps students to feel comfortable , even if the subject is challenging for them. Mental health is a critical aspect of education that often gets overlooked, and in-person friendships and social interactions can greatly reduce levels of stress and anxiety.

3) There are less distractions in the classroom.

At home, when taking classes online, learners tend to be distracted easily. Daily disturbances of the internet or common disruptions at home can make students and instructors loose focus frequently , adding to the lack of engagement. However, when students are sitting in a classroom setting with their peers where they can’t turn their camera off to do something else, they have more of an opportunity to be involved with the lesson because there is nothing else they can do in a more structured learning environment.

Cons of In-Person Class

One of the major disadvantages of traditional in-person learning is that it’s not always easily available to people. This is especially true for higher education institutions. Here are some of the drawbacks of in-person classes.

1) For some students, their local college may not offer their field of study.

Even for those who think they prefer in person classes, going going away for college might be completely out of their budget. This makes learning inaccessible and inefficient. Traditional colleges are expensive , and traveling to out of state colleges is even more expensive, which turns people away from enrolling in either. Online classes offer the ability to find a program that works for them at a more reasonable price.

2) Going to class can be time-consuming.

When attending school in a traditional classroom setting, you have to take into account the commute time and lecture length. Many students will have a class schedule that contains 3-4 classes each day that are at least an hour long, in addition to class time you must consider the additional time to walk, bike, bus, or drive to those classes which makes hours of the day disappear. In-person classes are not as flexible as online classes, which can frustrate many students that pay for the college experience, but have little time to indulge. For example, student athletes miss classes quite often due to athletic events, but are expected to keep up with the rest of their class even though their lectures may not be recorded for them to learn the material.

3) Some students’ learning styles do not align with physically being there.

Social anxiety has been a big issue in younger generations, so there is usually a division in bigger classroom sizes. Quieter, shyer students will tend to sit in the back, which can lower engagement if they can’t hear the professor or see the board. In some cases, big group discussions make students feel afraid to speak up, holding them back from fully participating as well. Online communities offer students the time and space to put together their thoughts, so that they don't feel that social stress that the typical physical classroom experience causes. Allowing students to have course conversations in an online platform like Yellowdig, as opposed to in-person, allows students who may be taking the course in their second language an equal opportunity to participate. This online conversation model enables students who would typically not speak in live classes the opportunity to shine through a less stressful social interaction.

In-person learning vs online learning comparison chart

At the End of the Day, Which is Better?

With all the pros and cons laid out about each type of learning sphere, it’s hard to say that one is better than the other. With increasing advancements in technology, there’s no way to avoid using it in the classroom altogether. Due to the impact of COVID-19, everyone has put the idea of online classes at the forefront of education. Whether it be in-person learning or online learning, both mediums can be great options and achieve exemplary educational outcomes.

We’ve seen many creative solutions arise, whether it is accommodating alternate in-person courses, shifting rapidly to online, or seeking out hybrid delivery modalities at a faster rate in the last year than ever before. While it is not clear that one modality is superior to the other, what can be seen is that the best way to support academic outcomes is by generating active learning communities both inside and outside the classroom.

Yellowdig recognizes that many students do not truly engage in discussion with their peers through traditional discussion boards, which only further constrains relationship building and effective communication. These two aspects are intrinsic to successful learning, which is why our platform was created to build that human bridge. For Yellowdig, learning should not just happen inside the classroom, but outside the classroom as well. Learn how it works here .

Want to talk more about building learning communities in your classrooms? The Yellowdig Client Success team is comprised of former teachers who now support the development of healthy communities in online, hybrid, and in-person classes.

A Student Perspective

With Online Learning, ‘Let’s Take a Breath and See What Worked and Didn’t Work’

The massive expansion of online higher education created a worldwide laboratory to finally assess its value and its future.

By Jon Marcus

This article is part of our Learning special report about how the pandemic has continued to change how we approach education.

Kameshwari Shankar watched for years as college and university courses were increasingly taught online instead of face to face, but without a definitive way of understanding which students benefited the most from them, or what if anything they learned.

As an associate professor of economics at City College in New York, Dr. Shankar knew that one of the most important requirements of scientific research was often missing from studies of the effectiveness of online higher education: a control group.

Then came the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing almost everyone on earth online and creating a randomized trial on a planetary scale with a control group so big, it was a researcher’s wildest dream.

“The pandemic and the lockdown — that’s a great natural experiment,” said Dr. Shankar. A study she co-authored called it “a gold mine of evidence.”

Now the results of this experiment are starting to come in. They suggest that online higher education may work better than prepandemic research suggested, and that it is evolving decisively toward a combination of in-person and online, or “blended,” classes.

“For two years we’ve had sort of a petri dish of experimenting with learning online,” said Anant Agarwal, chief platform officer of the online program management company 2U and former CEO of edX, the online provider created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard and sold last year to 2U for $800 million. “Now people are sitting down and saying, ‘Let’s take a breath. Let’s see what worked and didn’t work.’ ”

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Online Classes Vs. Traditional Classes Essay
The article compares and contrasts online classes and traditional classes. Among the advantages of online classes are flexibility and convenience, while in-person classes offer a more structured learning environment. The author highlights that online lessons can be more cost-effective, although they lack support provided by live interactions.
Online Learning vs Face-to-Face: [Essay Example], 768 words
Online learning provides flexibility, accessibility, and global interaction, while face-to-face education fosters immediate feedback, social interaction, and mentorship. The choice between these modes depends on individual preferences, learning styles, and circumstances. Ultimately, a hybrid approach that combines the strengths of both online ...
Online Learning vs. In-Person Learning
Due to the greater range of flexibility in online learning, it can offer better opportunities for time management and the creation of a personalized learning approach, whereas in-person learning provides a teacher with better control over the class. Starting with the in-person learning as the most common type of education, one should address ...
Online college classes can be better than in-person ones. The
The quality of a well-run synchronous online class can now rival—and in some respects exceed—the quality of the in-person equivalent due to the pandemic-induced network effect amongst students ...
Online vs in-person learning in higher education: effects on student
In contrast, other studies present evidence of online students outperforming their in-person peers. For example, Iglesias-Pradas et al. conducted a comparative analysis of 43 bachelor courses at ...
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The two approaches each have advantages and disadvantages in relation to student learning. In this article, the pros and cons of both conventional and online education will be examined from the perspectives of COVID-19, students' mental health, and their professional and personal growth. Because of COVID-19, there has been a global trend ...
How Effective Is Online Learning? What the Research Does and Doesn't
Most online courses, however, particularly those serving K-12 students, have a format much more similar to in-person courses. The teacher helps to run virtual discussion among the students ...
Remote vs In-person Classes: Positive and Negative Aspects Essay
My school design would incorporate both remote and in-person classes for all the students. I would want dependent and young learners to take partial online classes to gain experience with digital education tools but most of their learning would be in physical classrooms. Hands-on and practical classes would be 80% in-person and 20% online.
PDF Online vs in-person learning in higher education: effects on student
ARTICLE Online vs in-person learning in higher education: effects on student achievement and recommendations for leadership Bandar N. Alariﬁ1 & Steve Song2 This study is a comparative analysis ...
Online Vs in Person Classes: a Paradigm Shift in Education
Online classes allow students to attend class on their schedule and not have to worry about missing too many days while traditional classes allows students to engage and get a quick follow up for something that they do not understand. Keep in mind: This is only a sample. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.
Online Classes or Traditional Classroom: An Argumentative ...
Online classes provide flexibility and accessibility, while traditional classrooms prioritize in-person interaction and structured learning. The optimal approach may involve a blend of both formats, leveraging the strengths of each to create a comprehensive and personalized learning experience that meets the diverse needs of students in the ...
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Advantages of Online Learning. One of the main advantages of online or distance learning is clear from the name. You can take a class or attend a meeting anywhere in the country - or even the world. With virtual classes, you can learn from anywhere as long as you have a reliable Internet connection. This can reduce transportation barriers.
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219. A UNESCO report says schools' heavy focus on remote online learning during the pandemic worsened educational disparities among students worldwide. Amira Karaoud/Reuters. By Natalie Proulx ...
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The model, which allows students to choose, every day, whether they'll attend class in person or online (via Zoom), was positively received by students. When surveyed, they said they preferred the Choice Model to all other delivery approaches combined (including fully in-person learning) by more than a two-to-one margin.
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Given less overhead costs, online education tends to be much more cost-effective than in-person learning. In some cases, online learning can be totally free, such as from platforms like YouTube. If you're seeking to earn a degree online, you can do so at a tuition-free institution like the University of the People.
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For example, many students attend online college while working full-time. 5. More Equitable, Accessible Learning. Another advantage of online classes is that they can open up more learning opportunities for students with disabilities, making postsecondary education more accessible and inclusive.
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Educators must also make sure the person getting credit for the class is, indeed, the person who does the work in the class. But perhaps the most important concern is ... there is, as of yet, no definitive ruling on the value of online learning relative to face-to-face learning. Numerous factors impede progress in our understanding. First,
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In-person vs. Online Learning: The Pros and Cons. November 28, 2022 | Charlotte Brook. save. Propelled by the global pandemic, online learning has come a long way, resulting in a vast range of options of formal education for potential business school students from in person classes, hybrid learning, or a fully remote online degree.
In-Person vs. Online Learning
3) Online learning can be cheaper than in-person learning. Traditional schooling tends to be more expensive than online schooling because there are in person experience costs. This includes extracurriculars, dorming, dining halls, etc. These are all amenities that students are typically happy to pay for, but the realities of the pandemic lead ...
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Online and in-person classes have four key areas - location, interaction, flexibility, and cost - that set them apart. Assessing these differences can help you choose between the two learning modes. 1. Location. Depending on where a student lives, location can be a factor in choosing which school to attend.
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The option for full-time e-learning was also extended to students in Grades 9-12. Given this exceptional delivery model of education, effects of online versus in-person learning should be examined closely. In this study, we were interested in understanding whether learning fully online or in-person impacted students' perceptions of mattering.
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Online Learning vs. In-Person Learning

Online college classes can be better than in-person ones. The implications for higher ed are profound.

Supporting a broader range of learning styles

Challenges in online learning environments

Rethinking college online instruction

How Effective Is Online Learning? What the Research Does and Doesn’t Tell Us

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In-person Learning v/s Online Learning: What’s Better?

What is In-Person Learning?

What is Online Learning?

Pros of In-Person Learning

Academic experience

Distraction-free environment

Cons of In-Person Learning

Lack of scheduling control

More expensive

Commuting time

Pros of Online Learning

Flexibility

Accessibility

Cost-effective

Networking globally

Cons of Online Learning

Technical issues

Distractions

Self-motivation

Closing Thoughts

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Online vs. In-Person Learning

Should I Go to College Online or On Campus?

What Are Some Potential Considerations of Attending College Online?

1. Scheduling Flexibility

2. Lower Tuition and Boarding Costs

3. Increased Networking Opportunities

4. Perfect for Busy Parents and Workers

5. More Equitable, Accessible Learning

What Are the Benefits of Taking Courses in Person?

1. Distraction-Free Environment

2. Hands-On Learning

1. Tougher Technical Requirements

2. Greater Need for Self-Motivation

3. Possible Distractions at Home

4. Less Cooperation and Interaction with Peers

1. Less Control Over Scheduling

2. Commuting to Classes

3. Higher Tuition Expenses

What Degrees Can You Get Online?

Top 7 Degrees to Earn Online

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