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Griffin Anderson

Mrs. Krepp

Composition

2 May 2024

Online Learning versus In-person Learning

Online versus in-person: which is the better way to learn? Is online education the better

option for students with a larger degree of freedom and ability to learn on the go or is the

traditional classroom with fewer distractions the optimal way of learning? In-person and online

learning offer different opportunities and approaches to education, where the former provides a

more traditional, interactive classroom environment with immediate feedback; While the latter

offers better flexibility and convenience while necessitating self-discipline and time management

skills.

Firstly, online instruction often leads to higher retention rates due to the broader range of

information and interactions between students and their online providers. With classroom

participation higher than in traditional classrooms, it helps students learn the material more

effectively and thoroughly. According to ThinkImact, “Students retain an average of up to 60%

more information when teaching is facilitated online and not just in the traditional classroom.

eLearning also requires 40-60% less time” (Falk). Online learning makes it easier for students to

absorb information and then continue to retain information for a longer period. With online

learning requiring less time to go through a course, students are more likely to retain information

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progressing at a pace more than what the student needs. These students consider that class

participation, concentration during the lectures, and understanding of the taught material are

more effective when classes are taken in person, and they explain their preference in terms of

more effective learning (“Remote and In-Person Learning: Utility Versus Social Experience”).

With a higher percentage of students participating in class, it provides a higher level of

understanding than online learning. Students participating in activities or course work especially

with other students gives them a wider perspective on subjects covered in class. In-person

learning students are more likely to learn from participating in class rather than online learning.

Secondly, In-person learning would have fewer distractions compared to online learning

with a working environment and a teacher keeping students on track. In-person makes for an

engaging environment, as opposed to online classes, which might feature plenty of distractions

nearby, and no one to tell you to “get back to work!” (“Online Vs. In-Person Classes: Pros and

Cons”). Along with in-person classes making an actual working environment, it causes students

to feel the need to be productive. In contrast, students at home being inside their own home most

of the time the environment at home is usually more relaxed compared to at school in a work

setting. These students considered that during face-to-face classes, communication with the

teacher is more effective (66%), understanding the material is better (81%), concentration is

longer (73%), and better (76%), and expression of ideas is more straightforward (56%) (“Remote

and In-Person Learning: Utility Versus Social Experience”). With students being able to

communicate with the teacher more effectively, this causes students to learn information better

than if it were online. Students also being able to learn information better causes them to retain

information at a better rate compared to a student doing online learning. WIth online learning

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being more free where students can learn it allows students to progress through a semester faster

than a regular student can.

Online learning being a more free way of learning allows students to travel and save

money on traveling to school. Online education enables you to study or teach from anywhere in

the world. This means there’s no need to commute from one place to another or follow a rigid

schedule. On top of that, not only do you save time, but you also save money, which can be spent

on other priorities. The virtual classroom is also available anywhere there’s an internet

connection, and a good way to take advantage of this is to travel (“5 Reasons Why Online

Learning is the Future of Education in 2024”). “The average per-credit-hour, in-state tuition rate

for online instruction in the US among public schools for the 2019-20 academic year was

$333.00 per credit hour” (Hanson). Online learning is an opportunity for students to be able to

learn and save money from not only traveling to campus every day but the overall cost of online

learning. Many students have switched to online for the cost and freedom of learning everywhere

they go. The average per-credit-hour, in-state tuition rate for in-person instruction in the US

among public schools for the 2019-20 academic year was $711.00 per credit hour (Hanson).

With In-person learning costing more money it pushes students to switch to online for the

benefits it gives to students. With the cost of in-person learning only going to rise students are

going to easily move to online classes. Online learning is an easier and cheaper option for

students; They are switching and not looking back.

In-person and online learning offer different opportunities and approaches to education,

where the former provides a more traditional, interactive classroom environment with immediate

feedback; While the latter offers better flexibility and convenience while necessitating self-

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discipline and time management skills. Online is an easier way of learning and cheaper for

students. Many will move online. With online becoming an easier choice for students to switch

and move soon in person, learning will be a thing of the past.

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Works Cited

Falk, Kimberley. “The Impacts of Online Learning on Student Success.” UCR Extension,

https://extension.ucr.edu/features/impactsofonlinelearning. Accessed 18 April 2024.

“5 Reasons Why Online Learning is the Future of Education in 2024.” Education

Abroad, 12 July 2019, https://www.educations.com/articles-and-advice/5-reasons-online-

learning-is-future-of-education-17146. Accessed 23 April 2024.

Hanson, Melanie. “Cost of Online Education vs. Traditional Education [2023]:

Comparison.” Education Data Initiative, 23 August 2023, https://educationdata.org/cost-

of-online-education-vs-traditional-education. Accessed 23 April 2024.

“Online Vs. In-Person Classes: Pros and Cons.” Collegeboxes, Collegeboxes,

https://www.collegeboxes.com/online-vs-in-person-classes-pros-and-cons/#:~:text=In

%2DPerson%20Classes%3A%20The%20Pros&text=You%20can%20ask%20questions

%20in,face%20communication%20with%20your%20professor. Accessed 18 April 2024.

“Remote and In-Person Learning: Utility Versus Social Experience.” NCBI, 21 December

2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9769479/#CR45. Accessed 18

April 2024.

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