SHOULD ONLINE CLASSES REPLACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS?

Online classes v.s. Traditional classroom

Monica Garcia

Los Angeles Leadership Academy

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SHOULD ONLINE CLASSES REPLACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS?

Abstract

As technology improves, this trend will likely continue and accelerate. Researchers must

evaluate the impact of online courses compared to that of their traditional counterparts. Online

course offerings allow for more time, flexibility, lower total cost, and the ability to be able to

finish a profession of choice. Students with economical difficulties benefit from online classes

because their economic conditions may not allow them to physically attend classes due to

transportation issues, disabilities, or other responsibilities their parents might have that precluded

them from transporting their children to school. This essay will will explore and evaluate online

education including the evaluation of some published research studies from Northcentral

University, Kendall Bird, and Karen Swan.

Keywords: flexibility, lower total cost, and being able to finish in your profession, online courses
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SHOULD ONLINE CLASSES REPLACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS?

Online classes v.s. Traditional classroom

A person should also ask how much extra time he or she might have with family or how

much extra time would be available for personal use if he or she no longer needed to attend

classes. Online classes should replace traditional classroom teachers because todays students

seek to be independent. According to the article written by Avi Yashchin, Will online learning

replace classroom? over 75% of universities now offer some online undergraduate degrees

(2016). Students now can study whatever they want to learn online. Online classes also help

students prepare for future careers in their field Andersen, (2012). Online classes would make

life easier in the sense that students could do other activities while moving towards their

educational goals and subsequently towards their career goals. Online education has clearly

become one of the most popular higher education alternatives. Taking online classes can work

with students schedule, if they cant take time off work they can complete their assignments

from work. Furthermore online classes are at a lower cost, and are more affordable than

traditional classes. According to Zhang Dongsong, Leon Zhao, Zhou Lina, Nunamaker Jay As

the new economy requires more and more people to learn new knowledge and skills in a timely

and effective manner, the advancement of computer and networking technologies are providing a

diverse means to support learning in a more personalized, flexible, portable, and independent

(2004). This is stating that this new generation and the economy is advancing and is providing

online classes because they are more flexible and portable. Online classes should replace

traditional classroom teachers because todays students seek to be independent.

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SHOULD ONLINE CLASSES REPLACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS?

Flexibility and Lower Total Cost

Taking Online classes is beneficial because it offers flexibility to the student. This is a

great option for those who have a full time job or have a busy life. Online classes will mold

with your schedulelogin to your online course at a time that works best for you as opposed to

having to attend a lecture at a specific time (Bird, 2014). Bird is stating the student chooses

their classes depending on the students busy schedule. According to Kendall Bird Online vs.

Traditional Education (2014) Flexibility was a major concern for Casey Horton, a graduate of

sociology and psychology from Ashford University. Horton, a working adult, needed an online

program because of the convenience it offered. If you are raising a family, working and can't

find a job that offers a flexible schedule, online is the best way to go . This shows that Horton a

graduate student still takes college classes and online classes because it was his best option due

to having a family and work. In his case online classes were the best option for his busy

schedule. Online classes are flexible when it comes to choosing when, and where they want to

complete their weekly assignments. Online courses give students the opportunity to plan their

study time around the rest of their day, instead of the other way around. Students can study and

work when they are at their peak energy, whether thats early morning or late at night. Course

material is always accessible online, so theres no need to schedule special trips to a library

either. All of this makes online learning a good option for students who need to balance their

work and family commitments.

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SHOULD ONLINE CLASSES REPLACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS?

The greatest gap between the traditional and the online could be the cost. Based on

Northcentral University The cost of tuition at an online institution, like Northcentral, is a

fraction of that at a traditional institution. Because an online university does not have the fees of

maintaining a large campus and its classrooms, it is able to pass the savings onto students of all

ages. (2017). This has shown that it is more likely that online classes are cheaper and will not

take long to pay of the classes. Based on Best Value Schools Colleges and universities that offer

online degree programs typically will be cheaper than going to a traditional brick-and-mortar

university for a variety reasons. For many schools that solely specialize in offering online

degrees, they have less expenses to incur. This allows online colleges and universities to offer

cheaper tuition rates compared to traditional brick-and-mortar colleges and universities. The

average student will typically spend anywhere between $100 to $400 per credit hour

(2107).This shows that online classes are more affordable and will take less time paying it off.

Statistics

Based on Karen Swan Distance Education Interactions among students through course

discussions seem to be of the most influential features of online courses they are also the best-

researched to date (2001). Interaction among students is an important factor in the success of

online courses. This could lead to suspect that collaborative learning activities might also be

supportive of success. However, researchers who have investigated collaborative learning online

have found it remarkably unsuccessful says Karen Swan (2001). Researchers have indicated that

online courses that are well structured and easy to use, take advantage of increasing access to

instructors and that feature more equitable and democratic discussion are the most successful

(Swan, 2001). According to statistics in spring of 1999 approximately 3,800 students were

enrolled in 264 courses offered through SLN (Swan, 2001).

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SHOULD ONLINE CLASSES REPLACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS?

According to Maureen Bowers it states The same study found that 31.3% of all higher

education students took at least one online course in 2010, and 65% of higher education

institutions consider online learning to be a critical part of their long-term strategies (2013).

This proves that college students take online classes and its 65% higher education (2013). Based

on P. Rovai Alfred, M. Jordan Hope Distance education is already a pervasive element of higher

education and it continues to rapidly expand (2004). This is stating that online classes is a

higher education and is developing every year. According to Babson Survey Research Group,

Babson College (2011) nearly one- third of students enrolled in degree- granting postsecondary

institutions take an online class. The graph below will show the number of students taking at

least one online class has grown.

More interaction and greater ability to concentrate

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SHOULD ONLINE CLASSES REPLACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS?

According to Open Education Database while there is contradictory evidence about the

rate of online student participation versus participation in traditional courses, one thing is certain:

online courses offer shy or more reticent students the opportunity to participate in class

discussions or chats with more ease than face-to-face class sessions. Some students even report

that online courses are easier to concentrate in because they are not distracted by other students

and classroom activity (2012). This means that students will be more focused and concentrated

on their school work.

Avoid commuting and Continue in your profession

Based on Open Education Database states During snowstorms and thunderstorms,

colleges may cancel classes; if they dont, you run the risk of getting hurt in dangerous driving

conditions (2012). Rather than miss important class sessions, students in online courses can

always attend by participating on discussion boards or in chat sessions, turn in their work on

time, and watch lectures or read materials. (2012). This means that if they live near northeast

and midwest college students have to be aware, thats why the most reasonable thing to do is take

online courses. Online classes will have the material they need and will never miss a discussion.

Even if someone wants to complete a degree program, it doesnt mean that they want to

leave their current job. For most students today, college costs mean that its necessary to continue

working while in school. The previously mentioned flexibility of online degree programs enable

students to keep working while also pursuing academic credentials. This means that you can still

work and take classes to continue their profession. Online classes will help them in many ways,

for example they can do two things at once by this it means that they can do still work on their

dream goals and keep working.

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SHOULD ONLINE CLASSES REPLACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS?

Conclusion

Online classes can still serve as a great resource in your college career. Online classes

could help students stay connected to schoolwork without putting a strain on what outside

activities can be enjoyed. Studies have shown if students want to save money and not spend on

travel expenses going from home to college, online classes are the right fit for them. Moreover,

online classes are so flexible that they can work with students busy schedules. If students have to

take care of family and cant afford to miss work, online classes can work with their schedule so

they have more time to manage responsibilities. To add on you dont want to waste a lot of

money and if you want to take off and enjoy you can do so by taking online classes.

In conclusion, no matter the circumstances, online classes create and benefit the lives of

those who take them. An education makes for a positive impact in the lives of a students

education the same way as a regular classroom setup. It will provide the same help for disabled

students, help financially, and most importantly help students who do not have transportation,

furthermore it will allow students to pursue their dreams to accomplish and receive the degree

they need to succeed in life.

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SHOULD ONLINE CLASSES REPLACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS?

Reference

Best Value School. (2017). Value in Online Learning. Best Value School. Retrieved from

http://www.bestvalueschools.com/faq/is-attending-college-online-cheaper-than-attendin

-a-traditional-college/

Bowers Maureen, Freyman Neil, McLellan Elizabeth, Paxton Brian, Spiegel Jeremy.

(2012).Online and Traditional Lectures : EVALUATING Effects of social presence and

learner control. Retrieved from

http://drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/handle/1903/13885/ONLINE%20Final

%20Thesis.pdf;jsessionid=9775E57F6512A81F13BCC80F2D842D16?sequence=1

I. Elaine Allen, Jeff Seaman. (2011). Online Report Card: Tracking Online Education in

the United States. Retrieved from

http://www.babson.edu/Academics/faculty/provost/Pages/babson-survey-research-group

aspx

IE Allen, J Seaman,2002 and 2003,Sizing the Opportunity: The Quality and Extent of Online

Education in the United States, The Sloan Consortium.

Jee Kim Kyong, J. Bonk Curtis. (2006). The Future of Online Teaching and Learning in Higher

Education. EDUCAUSE QUARTERLY . Retrieved from

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SHOULD ONLINE CLASSES REPLACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS?

https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EQM0644.pdf

Kendall Bird, 2/19/14, Online vs. Traditional Education: The Answer You Never Expected,

Rasmussen College.

http://www.rasmussen.edu/student-life/blogs/college-life/online-vs-traditional-education-

answer-never-expected/

Northcentral University. (2017). Benefits of Online Learning. Online learning. Retrieved from

https://www.ncu.edu/student-experience/online-education-guide/online-learning

P. Rovai Alfred, M. Jordan Hope. (2004). Blended Learning and Sense of Community: A

comparative analysis with traditional and fully online graduate courses.Regent

University, Vol.5 No.2. Retrieved from

http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/viewArticle/192/274.%20Accessed

%2019th%20March%202006

Palloff, Rena M. (2002). Lessons from Cyberspace Classroom. Distance Teaching and

Learning. Retrieved from

http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/resource_library/proceedings/01_20.pdf

Swan Karen. (2001). Virtual Interaction: Design factors affecting student satisfaction and

perceived learning in asynchronous online courses. Distance Education, Vol. No.2.

Retrieved from

http://lyc.american.edu/ctrl/upload/swan-article-2.pdf

Writers Staff. (2012). Open Education Database. Accredited Online, Specialty, and Campus-

Based Colleges. Retrieved from

http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/10-advantages-to-taking-online-classes/

Yashchin Avi. (2014). Will Online Learning Replace the Classroom. Huffpost. Retrieved from
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SHOULD ONLINE CLASSES REPLACE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS?

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4935348

Zhang Dongsong, Leon Zhao, Zhou Lina, Nunamaker Jay . (2004). CAN E-LEARNING

REPLACE CLASSROOM LEARNING?. Communications of the ACM, Vol.47, No.5.

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