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Student’s Name:

Institution Affiliation:

Professor’s Name:

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Compare and contrast essay of attending a college versus distance-based learning.

Most individuals find a suitable method that can favor them so that they can conduct their

studies. For example, the employed individuals prefer to have distance-based learning to

multitask doing jobs and learning. However, some of the young individuals prefer having full-

time studies. Thus, some individuals praise online or distance learning while others praise

attending college to conduct their studies. Eventually, the students performing the types of

learning get suitable employment and also succeed in the future. Thus, it depends on an

individual's flexibility, but what matters is that the two types of learning can conduct learning

processes successfully ("Traditional and Online Learning: Similarities and Differences." ). In

distance learning, the students use various course materials for communication, including videos,

Microsoft teams, and their exams online. Attending classes involves the activity in which the

students attend the classes, participation in group activities, interaction with the professors, and

students do their exams within the college premises but under supervision conducted by the

professors. The essay discusses the differences and similarities of attending classes versus

distance learning.
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Individuals choose either the two of the learning processes basing on their flexibility and

also their day-to-day activities. The two learning methods have similarities as they also get

related to each other. For example, both learning processes require an amount of work. It means

that both students are required to perform various activities so that they can perform their studies.

In both environments, the students get involved in receiving and sending feedbacks (Lansing, Jill

367). For example, in classrooms, the teacher asks questions to which students respond. The

similarity in online or distance learning is that the teacher asks questions through various

communication means like using Microsoft teams and videos. In both learning processes,

assignments play a role in the learning experience. Thus distance students get assigned

assignments as well as the ones attending classes physically. Both learning environments have

challenges and also rewards. For example, students get punished for not attending classes, and

also they get rewarded if they perform well. Both learning processes require the students to be

cautious in time management.

Distance learning, as well as attending classes, have a specific timeline in which students

learn. Thus, if it's online, the students are required to attend their online classes in time as well as

those attending classes physically. Both learning processes usually have a professor who guides

the students on what they should do. Thus, all the students from both learning environs are

required to attend their classes on time to learn from the teaching experts. They both involve an

interactive environment where the professors and students interact freely. Though the students

learn directly from the classroom in the classroom, it is not different from how the distance

learning students do. It is because they also ask the professor questions while learning.

The two learning processes also have some differences in that they differ in some ways.

For example, distance learning is a learning process that requires students to have discipline and
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self-directions to finish the assigned readings at the required time. However, this is different

from the students who attend classes as they meet a professor who advises them on timely

finishing their work. Thus, for the students who do not have discipline or self-direction in their

work, they cannot fit to do the online classes. The two learning processes differ on the aspect of

getting feedback. In some instances, the professor leaves a message to which he or she expects

the students to respond. The element can be slower compared to face-to-face teaching, where

both the professor and students get direct feedback at that time.

In a distance learning classroom, every student is considered equal as there are no face-

to-face interactions with the professor. Thus, the professor cannot understand the student who

needs more attention. However, in the traditional learning environment, it involves face-to-face

interactions that help the professor understand their students' personalities. In this, they tend to

know their best students and thus who are weak (Salmon et al., 110). Also, the aspect of network

and conduction social interactions is different in both learning processes. For example, the

students who attend classes tend to connect themselves with different types of individuals, and

also this also improves their social interactions. In this, they have the advantage of meeting with

students from diverse cultural ethnicities; hence they learn more on this aspect. However, the

students who involve themselves in the online learning environment fail to have networking and

social interactions. Online learning or distance learning is less costly as students do not incur

transportation costs to the college premises. However, the students who attend the college

everyday incur transportation costs if they do not reside around the college premises ("Distance

VS Classroom Learning: Which is the Better Option." ).

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In a nutshell, it is evident that both learning processes have similarities and differences,

but it depends on which the students prefer to learn. The students choose the method to learn

depending on their availability. If the student is available on a full-time basis, they choose to

attend classes every day, but if the student is committed somewhere, they choose to have online

learning to save time. Students must be aware that online learning needs commitment and self-

direction so that everything they do can be beneficial. As there are similarities and differences in

both types of learning, it is up to the student to decide which kind of learning process is best for

them. But if the student is comfortable with a different type of technology, most prefer an online

learning environment. If the student is free and doesn't have any work, it is good to attend the

classes to face the face learning experience.

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Work cited

"Distance VS Classroom Learning: Which is the Better Option." Columbia College Calgary,

5 Apr. 2018, www.columbia.ab.ca/distance-vs-classroom-learning-better-option/.

"Traditional and Online Learning: Similarities and Differences." Google Sites,

sites.google.com/site/traditionalvsonlinebfallaw/.

Lansing, Jill. "A new model of college choice for distance learners." Journal of Educational Technology

Systems 45.3 (2017): 365-389.

Salmon, Debra, and Mathew Jones. "Higher education staff experiences of using web-based learning

technologies." Journal of Educational Technology & Society 7.1 (2004): 107-114.