What is the future of eLearning?
How does distance learning differ from traditional learning?
Prospective students are often surprised to find that, at their cores, online learning and traditional learning are remarkably similar.
It may be difficult to imagine the similarities between the two.
The components are the same as those in a typical course delivered by e-learning. However, while the components are the same, it's also true that the form that they take can be different. To help compare on-campus and online learning, consider the usual components of a traditional on-campus course:
- A textbook
- An instructor
- Class discussion
- Written assignments
- Quizzes and exams
Let's consider them one at a time.
A textbook.
This is simple, usually exactly the same in both types of learning delivery formats. Sometimes, textbooks for online courses will be available online (as an e-Book) or will consist of a set of readings freely available online rather than an actual book. But usually, even with distance learning, the textbook will be a printed book that you can hold in your hands.
An instructor.
This component can be extremely similar in an online course, or it can be quite different. Distance learning courses vary a great deal in how structured they are. Some are extremely structured, with an instructor-led sequence that is as formal as any one would find in a traditional classroom. Others are more akin to independent study, where you set your own pace for learning and the instructor is only available in class or sometimes not at all.
Class discussion.
In online classes that are like independent study, this won't be an important component. However, many if not most online courses incorporate class discussion using online bulletin boards. This is called threaded discussion, and it allows students to interact and have a running conversation without having to be online at the same time. Another option is chat functionality, which is more rarely used and built into the course. This allows real-time communication between students and instructors who are online at the same time, just like instant messaging.
Written assignments.
This is nearly the same when it comes to traditional classes and online classes. One difference is that when assignments are submitted electronically, it's much easier to scan them with plagiarism detection services to ensure that the work you're handing in is really yours. This maintains the value of the degree you'll receive because it provides evidence of academic integrity.
Quizzes and exams.
Taking a quiz or exam online can be somewhat different from taking it in the classroom. There's no sense of camaraderie with your fellow students because they're not sitting with you. On the other hand, you can take quizzes and exams in the environment of your choosing, to prevent distractions, and you can usually take them at a time convenient for you. Another advantage of taking quizzes and exams online is that you can usually find out your score right away if your test is multiple choice or true/false, as opposed to that agonizing wait for the next class meeting (or the one after that!) to find out how well you did.
Did You Know? According to an October 2008 report from the Center for American Progress, "Almost 70 million adults in the current workforce between the ages of 25 and 64 do not have a postsecondary credential: Forty-eight million of these adults have a high school degree or less, and 21 million have some college experience but no degree."
