This submission will outline the pros and cons of traditional education, blended education

and a 100% online program. The submission will further conclude with the author’s opinion

on the programs conducted on the different platforms. Education is meant to pass on

knowledge and skills to learners. Traditionally, education has always been passed down to

learners in societies through verbal instruction and the provision of materials. Various ways

of passing down skills and knowledge have changed in the last few decades with distance

learning, online (internet) learning, blended learning, and many other ways. Traditional

methods have mostly been teacher-centred approaches with blended and online learning

being student-centred approaches.

Traditional education

The law insider( https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/traditional-education) defines

traditional education as education in which instruction takes place between an instructor and

students where all are physically present in the same classroom. This is the most common

type of education and has been practiced since time immemorial.

Pros of Traditional Education

Traditional education is also known as conventional education and students can access

campus services and activities. This type of education allows direct contact between students

and parents which allows for instant feedback. Traditional education gives students access to

campus services and activities which encourages active learning. It also fosters competition

which encourages students to achieve more in their individual capacities. The competition is

built around the demand for high test scores or grades which could also be a disadvantage.

Traditional education has the advantage of emphasizing school unity and spirit. It creates a

specific lifestyle which helps students develop their social and collaborative skills.
Qualifications from a traditional institution are widely accepted compared to qualifications

acquired from online institutions.

Cons of Traditional Education

Traditional education has its cons compared to other types of education. Firstly, it is

extremely costly because of the cost of books (study materials), accommodation rentals (if

living on campus), commuting between the campus and place of residence, and many other

services to be accessed by the campus. It also requires discipline which could be an

advantage by imposing more structure on students. Traditional education also demands a

heavy schedule with rigid deadlines which is not suitable for working professionals. It also

restricts the available time and requires a physical geographical location which may not be

convenient for some people to access the campus. The teacher – student ratio is usually very

high hence making the lesson more teacher-centred in terms of instruction.

Online learning

Online education is a procedure of gaining skills and knowledge through electronic devices

like computers, mobiles, laptops, etc using the internet (College Viday, 2021). In the 21st

century or the internet era, it has become a very common method or attaining an education.

Pros of Online Learning

Online learning has many advantages such as allowing for more flexibility which is suitable

for working adults to balance between work, family, and studies. Online learning does not

usually have rigid deadlines like traditional learning which helps professional students to

have control over their lifestyle. Online education is extremely affordable especially if one

already has access to the internet with the provision of a laptop or desktop computer. Books

or materials are usually issued to students for free in softcopy form by educators which
makes them affordable. There is no need for students to commute to the campus, hence the

affordability as one can conduct the lesson in their own convenience.

This type of learning permits students to travel because it has no geographical barriers which

makes it very accessible to many. Online education requires discipline on the part of studies

even though it allows students to structure their studies in what suits them best. It also allows

access to endless online materials and fosters personal growth and development. Online

education is also low on the demand time because of the flexibility. The lessons are usually

student-centred because of the teacher-student ratio and the various instructional approaches

that could be applied such as student-led discovery, hands-on activities, and group activities.

Knowledge can be easily shared between colleagues and is always available to global

audience.

Cons of Online Learning

Online education has got its cons as well. It is not suited for all ages because of the discipline

required to achieve the necessary targets. Qualifications acquired online are not accepted

everywhere. Some countries do not consider them as being valid. Feedback between students

and educators is rarely instant because of being in different geographical locations. Online

education may create a sense of isolation on students as they hardly socialize with their

course mates. Technical issues may arise, and students may be able to study according to

plan, and in some parts of Africa with prevalent electricity cuts, it proves to be a challenge to

pursue an online education. Educators instructing the online programs may have to get some

additional training to keep up with the trends in technology to be able to deliver instruction

effectively.

Blended Learning
Blended Learning is an integrated form of learning in which traditional classroom learning is

clubbed with eLearning to enhance learners’ experience and to engage them better (Neha. J,

2021). Most universities have adopted this type of education to provide access to vary the

instructional approaches.

Pros of Blended Learning

Blended learning is the mix between online and traditional learning. It has its advantages of

which are: it allows the experimenting with learning styles as the teacher or educator can vary

interaction patterns according to the different learner types hence reaching out to more

students. Blended learning also allows the use of interactive media which enhances learning.

It also allows access to materials without the geographical barriers and learners can also have

access to the services and activities by the campus. So, it is not affected by time or

geographical location. The other advantage is that students can develop social skills from the

campus and develop their technology skills through the constant use of ICT.

Cons of Blended Learning

The disadvantage of blended learning is that it needs specially developed courses to be

conducted. In the long run, it requires costly software and hardware to be put into use.

Another disadvantage of blended learning is that it increases teacher’s workload as the

teacher must spend time both online and offline to do all the necessary instructional duties. It

also increases students cognitive load because of the variant use of materials. Blended

learning can lead to overdependence on the use of technology.

Conclusion

Each of the different learning platforms have got their pros and cons. Most students consider

the value of their degree depending on the platform from where the qualification was

obtained. Qualifications from traditional and blended modes of education are widely accepted
compared to 100% online programs. The emergence of the Covid19 pandemic was

significant in the introduction of online programs and as at now, many countries accept the

validity of the 100% online programs than before the Covid19 pandemic.

Traditional and blended learning programs are more common in young people who just

graduated from high school. Most 100% online programs are taken by professional adults

with an alternative lifestyle where they would want to balance between work, family, and

studies. 100% online programs are more accessible compared to the campus programs hence

the popularity the new platform is receiving.

Governments must set up infrastructure to support outreach of 100% online programs as they

have a much wider outreach than a physical campus location. Education is a basic human

right and citizens of the world must be given this opportunity to have access to education.

This submission outlined the pros and cons of traditional education, blended education and

100% online programs. The submission further concluded with the author’s opinion on the

programs conducted on the different platforms.

References

https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/traditional-education

https://www.evelynlearning.com/blended-learning/