Formal education started in the Middle Ages, about 500 to 1500 AD. The system has remained popular across the world to date. Learners attend face-to-face learning for twelve years. They then join higher education for another 4 to 7 years. In 1989, universities started offering online educational programs.
Changing lifestyles and growing technologies created the need for distance learning. About 30 years later, the online education system is widespread globally. Most students today are torn between enrolling in online and offline education.
How to make the right choice
Before you choose between offline and online, understand their differences first. Their main difference is the location and how learning is delivered. Offline systems are located in a constant place. That means you have to travel to that place all the time to attend lessons. You have to be in a formal classroom and sit before a lecturer to learn.
Offline systems are not located in a specific geographical location. Learning is delivered where you are no matter the part of the world it is. The cost of running online learning is lesser, which means courses are cheaper too. Based on the three main differences, you can make your choices.
You are free to choose to enroll in online education or offline education. Those in offline education might have lasting memories of college life. However, students in any of the systems must learn to balance study and other activities. No matter the choice you make, you still have to complete written tasks. Many students do not struggle with essay writing, regardless of the volume. They always ask professionals to “write my essay” and thus save their time and effort. They always get high-quality paper thanks to the online service help for students.
Is the location right?
One fact about offline learning is that you have to be present in a physical location. Not every college near you offers the kind of courses you want. That means you have to apply to a college far away. You have to consider if you will make it to the institution daily. You might decide to migrate, but there are many other factors to consider.
Is the cost alright?
Offline facilities incur a lot of expenditure. Due to this, their courses attract higher tuition fees. You may incur other costs such as food, accommodation, travel, and library. Online education is cheaper because most of the costs get eliminated. Your budget will be a major determinant on which system to choose.
Are you working?
Your job is important, and you must decide whether you want to quit to join the school. Even if a traditional institution is near, your working hours are important. You could be working 40+ hours weekly which denies you time for offline learning. You may decide to choose online learning due to the flexibility it gives you. If you must attend offline education, your job security could be affected.
Do you need face-to-face student-teacher interaction more?
People have different learning styles and abilities. Someone might feel comfortable when they have access to a teacher face-to-face all the time. The person could be a slow learner and feel the presence of a teacher will be useful. If you need face-to-face interaction with a teacher more, offline learning is your best choice.
If you are okay with learning alone most of the time, online education is a good choice. Online education takes a facilitation approach. On the other hand, offline education takes an instructional approach. It all depends on which approach you feel most comfortable with.
How complex is the course?
Some courses are only delivered best offline, while others can be flexible. Let us say, for example, you are learning to be a surgeon. You need to dissect insects, animals, and people. You need to be physically present to see how every detail is done.
The situation is different from an individual learning coding. The student does not need to be in a traditional classroom all the time. A course that takes five years might favor offline more than a two-year course.
Conclusion
Whether to enroll in an offline or online course is determined by many factors. You need to consider the distance and the total cost of the course. People with families might find online education more convenient. In the same way, employees might prefer online courses more. Complex courses are better taken offline compared to simple courses. The student needs to consider the length of the course and the time factor.
Author’s Bio
Robert Griffith is known for excellent work in the field of blogging and essay writing. No matter how hard a topic is or how complex a research assignment is, he does everything with so much ease that students are left awestruck by the quality of his work. He has excelled in the art of writing through mentors who provide him with regular input and tricks to master the art.
