Education Essay: Online Instruction versus face to face instruction at he college level

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COMPARISON ESSAY
Introduction
College students have options of online instruction or face to face instruction under normal circumstances. Today, higher learning institutions are under increasing pressure to offer their courses online. As learning institutions continue to make use of the internet, online classes have continued to grow in effectiveness and popularity. With online learning, students can be able to learn at their pace and complete their assignments. Today, students and teachers do not need to meet in classrooms because with online learning, students from remote areas can access their courses and learn according to their schedule. Additionally, challenges associated with the allocation of classes do not exist in online instruction at the college level. In this case, it is imperative to determine some of the differences and similarities in courses offered online and those provided in traditional face to face format. This essay will compare both options in terms of curriculum, student and teacher interaction, time management and overall financial implications.
1 Curriculum
In both Face to face learning and online learning, a standardized curriculum is used by the college professors. The curriculums in traditional learning are based on government approved and standardized textbooks which teachers and students work through. In online learning, multimedia platforms are used more frequently. Further, the teacher centered curriculum deliver in traditional learning allows teachers to change the content while they are still teaching.
2 Student and Teacher Interaction
Traditional classroom settings allow face to face communications with the teacher and classmates. Online learning lack interaction and face to face communication with the instructors. When it comes to face to face learning, teachers can interact with the students while students can organize discussion groups during their free time. This is different from online learning because teachers are required to use online discussions, chats and forums to interact with the students and build a community (Johnson, & Virginia 21). With online learning, instructors can't delegate group works, and this can bring a lot of complications. Students also lack the opportunity to know their teachers and even interact with them. While online learning offers electronic interaction and communication only, face to face learning enables students to gain support from their teachers and also create personal relationships with them.
3 Financial Implications
Traditional classroom instruction may be more costly however students have the ability to expensive activities meals and other accommodations. Face to face instruction is more expensive than online learning. According to, online learning is less costly because students tend to save a lot of money compared to student...