Which is more effective traditional face-to-face classroom learning or online learning? The very best instructor either online or in the classroom needs to be practiced first. I learned in a traditional classroom with faculty face-to-face interaction for my undergraduate degree. I also had the privilege to learn in an online learning earning my graduate degrees. Presently I teach online where I totally understand face-to-face classroom learning and online learning by being an instructor in the classroom and online. I think it is important to be an effective online instructor to have already taken an online course of some sort to gain the insight hands-on mindset experiences on what the student is going through in the course.
The dependence on academic in-class learning has gaps in education. I am a firm advocate on academic learning online. When I had instructors teach me in the classroom traditionally speaking and told the class to read the chapter before they come to class most students did not read the chapter from the textbook at all. The effectiveness of the instructor to student was not really engaging at all. Students figured it was not their major and why should they take much consideration into their learning by reading the chapter ahead of time. I understand that is very sad but that is the way it went.
On the other hand you cannot participate in the discussion online if you do not either read the chapter, review a journal, or other communicative ways. I found my experience for online learning to be more effective where students did engage and support their education through the online learning world. At first when I started an online program I was unsure on the effectiveness in online learning. To my surprise I learned more online than I did sitting in a classroom. I guess the only way someone can realize how wonderful and rewarding online learning experiences are is to actually take part in a continuing education, college, or university online course. That is the answer.
