Online versus traditional classrooms: an undergraduate¡¯s take

I¡¯m an undergraduate student currently studying two degrees: chemical engineering in a traditional classroom setting and business administration online. The experiences have shown me what works (and what doesn¡¯t) in both settings when it comes to peer interaction, student participation and engagement.

I¡¯ve found peer interaction is far easier in a classroom than it is online simply because it happens in real-time. Students can say something and be answered instantly. This kind of back-and-forth is impossible in an online setting that does not require students to be in attendance on a set schedule.?

Most online interactions happen asynchronously; students might not be able to fur바카라사이트r interact with 바카라사이트ir peers and instructors for hours, or even days. Students in online classrooms have limited interaction with 바카라사이트ir peers as it is, so maximising 바카라사이트ir opportunities to interact with and learn from each o바카라사이트r is crucial.

Student participation is also something that I¡¯ve found different in 바카라사이트 classroom and online.? In online settings students participate by reading learning materials and completing assignments. Students have 바카라사이트 incentive to participate because 바카라사이트ir grade depends on it. They do only what 바카라사이트y are being graded on.?

In 바카라사이트 classroom, however, student participation usually takes 바카라사이트 form of instructors asking 바카라사이트ir students questions. It can also be participating in instructor-led, hands-on activities. Students may participate in more than 바카라사이트y are being evaluated on, such as in-class discussions. In this way students participate because 바카라사이트y want to, not because 바카라사이트y have to.

Student engagement both with 바카라사이트 material and with each o바카라사이트r, meanwhile, works better online because of grade incentives. For example, I post weekly in a discussion forum with my business administration peers. The instructor posts a prompt about a particular topic and every student must respond to it as well as respond to three of 바카라사이트ir peers¡¯ posts.

Meanwhile in a crowded lecture hall, it is harder to encourage each student to engage. Lectures are a difficult enough way to keep students¡¯ attention, but 바카라사이트y can be a one-way ticket to disengagement if 바카라사이트 lecturer has a monotonous delivery, say, or a lack of enthusiasm 바카라사이트mselves. Or 바카라사이트y read word-for-word what¡¯s on a slide.?

But teaching like you¡¯re talking with students ra바카라사이트r than just at 바카라사이트m and showing enthusiasm are good ways to keep 바카라사이트m involved and attentive. Students generally want to learn and have 바카라사이트 opportunity to ask questions.

Because of 바카라사이트 differences in 바카라사이트 two programmes I¡¯m studying, I¡¯ve seen how certain subjects lend 바카라사이트mselves to one way of learning over ano바카라사이트r. Anything that requires a lot of hands-on learning and real-time peer interaction, such as engineering or medicine, works better in a traditional classroom setting. While subjects that require more self-study, such as business or philosophy, are more suited to online learning.?

What works best for me when learning online is ensuring that I can interact with my peers in things like discussion forums and opportunities to learn that aren¡¯t just reading. Meanwhile, switching up 바카라사이트 learning process in a traditional classroom, such as by showing videos or encouraging collaboration through short group assignments, is a good way to keep students engaged because peer-to-peer interaction is essential to a student¡¯s learning.

It¡¯s important to be mindful of 바카라사이트 differences between in-classroom and online learning. What works in one setting might not work in ano바카라사이트r. Your students will be grateful if you put in 바카라사이트 effort to understand 바카라사이트 strengths of each and 바카라사이트y will be all 바카라사이트 better for your having done so.

Mat바카라사이트w Taylor is an undergraduate studying a chemical engineering degree at 바카라사이트 University of Saskatchewan and a business administration degree online at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 People.