Traditional vs. Online Schooling (Scholarship Contest)

     A teacher, a desk, and a chair: these are the components of a traditional learning environment. A webcam, a computer, and a keyboard: these are seen in the online course. Online and traditional schooling differ in many ways. However, traditional schooling is better for both students and teachers. The environment and interactions in traditional schooling allow students to focus more on the subject rather than other matters.
     Traditional schooling allows students to have a better environment when they are learning new subjects. The environment in traditional schooling mimics that of a real class setting; it also allows students to have better interactions with one another than online. For example, when doing a discussion, it is better hold a discussion in the classroom when the students can talk face to face about issues. However, online, students talk face to face in a webinar. In addition, when students talk face to face, they can build more connections with other people better than on an online chat. In addition, in a classroom, students can ask the teachers questions by raising their hand or staying after class; conversely, online, students have fewer opportunities to do that because they may not be as focused. Therefore, traditional schooling offers a better learning environment that an online course.
     Traditional schooling allows students to focus solely on the subject and not on other matters. Teachers can teach their lessons better and students can learn better because the environment is directed to the subject. However, in an online class, students get distracted more easily. Since they are talking via computer, they have the tendency to go online and divert their attentions to addicting sites, such as FaceBook. By doing so, students don’t motivate themselves as much as in a traditional setting. In the classroom, students are more likely to do their work because the teacher is watching them. For example, some teachers in my school collect cell phones in the beginning of class to lessen the inclination of their students to digress to do other things. With that, students can learn better in class than online because they have the opportunity to concentrate on that task without sidetracking their attention too much.
     Traditional schooling is better than online schooling because it students can have a better learning environment and focus better. It allows the teacher to teach better and the students to learn more and better.