Online vs. Traditional College - Essay Example

According to Dean (2005, p28), online classes originated from computer based e-learning programs that were structured to replicate the traditional learning styles. The classes later developed into a more collaborative learning supported by computer, which enabled sharing of knowledge in a given community. Though these developments mainly took place in the corporate sectors, the mainstream education system adopted the technology in the 1980s when several western universities created an online platform to enhance interaction between students (Bear, 2001, p 36).

The internet revolution of 1990s enhanced greater mobility, accessibility of internet-based applications, and by 1993, the first online lecture was delivered through the computer (Dean, 2005, p 37). It is from this successful delivery that educationists created virtual classrooms, which developed to online colleges in the following years. In United States, online education received support from the Congress and since then, its growth in the world is phenomenal (Bear, 2001, pp 52-54). Millions of students have enrolled and graduated in various online courses and the rapid growth of information technology has increased the number of institutions offering different online courses around the world.

In spite of the popularity of online college, traditional colleges are still the choice of majority students in the world. Advantages of online college Studying online offers many benefits to students and with just average computer skills, earning a degree certificate at the comfort of home is now a reality. Studying online offers flexible schedules and for people engaged in full time commitments such as family and work, online learning is more convenient compared to traditional college. In addition to the flexibility of online college, students complete their studies at shorter time compared with traditional colleges.

Online classes are also geographically flexible because students are not required to travel to the campus or the college to study. Accessibility to internet is all that is required and it does not matter whether you are in rural or urban areas. Students from less developed countries do not have to travel to foreign countries to study, spending a lot of money in the travel and living expenses (Dean, 2005, pp30-33). Online classes offer learning that is more flexible because a student is not required to take notes like in traditional college.

All learning materials are online and it is easier to access books and other academic materials online. This saves a lot of time traveling to physical libraries, which sometimes do not have the necessary learning materials. The technological applications of online college such as multimedia applications enhance better interactions and discussions between lecturers and students (Dean, 2005, p73). Online college does not require any specific dress code since students learn at their own convenience.

In addition, they offer wide range of courses and students who lack admission in the traditional colleges do not only have a wide range of courses to chose from, but also have a better opportunity of studying disciplines of their interest. Moreover, online classes offer better learning environment for students from diverse cultural backgrounds because such classes do not subject them to culture shock and challenges that multicultural