Traditional Learning Vs. Digital Learning

A Brave New World, but What If You Are Not Brave?

Today, online courses and training have not only become popular they have, in some cases, become mandatory. Every year, our school along with other schools and companies across the nation must take and view a number of required GCN compliance training videos. More and more universities are offering online classes and degrees. I recently got an email to work on and complete a doctorate in the privacy of my own home. And this popularity makes a lot of sense as people are becoming more and more reliant on technology due to their mobility; you might not always be able to make it to class, but internet is almost everywhere. Despite the mass popularity of online education, many people (myself included) consciously stay away from such a method, mostly due to misconceptions about these classes or even fear of using the technology that they require. It might be a “Brave New World” but what if you are like me and just not, well… brave?

Well, here are the some things to consider as there are always two sides of any issue.

What I Have Learned About Digital Learning

Many people take professional level courses usually to increase their qualifications and enhance their career options. For example, in education, one of the only ways to advance in pay is to increase your education or to get another certification for some kind of administrative position. But as many can testify, after a long day of teaching many teachers are simply too tired to attend regular classes. So, the most convenient thing to do is to take an online class at a time that works best for them.

One of the advantages to online learning is that individuals can take a course from the comfort of their home. Online learning may be the best option for those continuing their education while they’re working in their regular jobs. Of course a possible disadvantage in online classes is that the learner is not directly interacting with the faculty member instructing the class. If you have a question, it can be difficult to ask their online instructor, as communication is often very impersonal and not always immediate.

What I Know About Traditional Learning

Traditional classes are more suitable for young children, teenagers, and young adolescents as one of the major goals in a traditional learning environment is to cultivate social interactions and other soft skills. Also, these younger students are not in the workforce and, therefore, regular attendance should not really be an issue as it is with their older counterpoints.

By design, the traditional classroom allows the teacher to know their students better and it allows them to assess them in various ways. The setting also allows for immediate classroom feedback to the questions and concerns of students. Of course, for those students who might be too shy to share their views, concerns or questions with the teacher in front of the classroom, an online class might work best. Also, there are times when a student gets sick and can miss several days of valuable classroom instruction. This is a common lament of many teachers, myself included.

Final Thoughts: Can We Find a Balance? Can We Be Brave?

For myself, I will always prefer a face to face classroom experience as I love the interaction and the give and take you have in a traditional classroom setting. Having said this, I recently took a class in which one group of students video conference with another group 45 miles away from each other during every class as the instructor traveled back and forth between the groups. At first, I really struggled with the class as I felt I was bonding with my local group, but could not really bond with the other group through the screen. As discussions unfolded, those feelings did not really change, but the discussions also would not have been as rich or deep without these added voices.

In the end, I could not help but wonder what the class would have been like had we been able to meet all together for the class. The fact of the matter, it would not have happened due to locality and, therefore, I do see the benefits of digital learning.

I highly doubt that the traditional classroom has seen its final days as some advocates of digital learning seem to suggest. From what I have found and learned about Blended Learning, there can be a balance between these methods.

In closing, I will simply refer to what educational icon and reformer John Dewey once said, “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” Change is scary, but needed. Good teachers take their students where they need to go. Great teachers take their students where they don’t want to go, but ought to be.

It’s a brave new world, so be brave.