Comparing Online and Face-to-Face Learning in Higher Education

This essay provides a comprehensive review of online and face-to-face learning methods in higher education. It examines the benefits and issues associated with each approach, drawing on various authors' works to compare and contrast the two. The study explores the flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and global reach of online learning, while also addressing its limitations, such as accreditation concerns and the need for strong commitment. The face-to-face method's advantages, including networking, engagement, and immediate feedback, are also discussed. The essay highlights the major differences between the two forms, such as physical presence and interaction levels, and concludes that the optimal method depends on the learner's individual circumstances and priorities, with online learning emerging as a more reliable option in today's world. The essay is supported by references to various academic sources.

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Abstract
In regards to several writers and authors concerning online and face to face, it has been
very hard to state which one is more of help to the learners and why. This has been so due to the
existence of many similarities and also each one of them being associated with some
shortcoming. This is a review of several authors’ work that has had some thoughts concerning
the two methods of learning. It’s from the comparison and contrast of the work that we can come
up with a reconciled decision regarding the benefits and the issues associated with both online
learning and face to face learning and this case in higher education.
Background information on the subject
The subject matter of this study is to understand the benefits and the issues that have been
associated both online learning. This will then give rise to a comparison which entails
contrasting too. According to (Grieve, 2014) online studies have become common worldwide
due to the pressure and the need to study. She claims that the ever-changing world in terms of
invention and levels of production requires individuals to keep upgrading their levels of
knowledge and specialization as well. These two authors claim that students strive to study,
while they have other matters to attend to too like work and family concerns and this has
therefore seen it through the evolution of the online learning which in this case is a platform to
relief them. Initially, the classes used to be offered face to face but off late are being replaced by
the online learning. However, Rachel Grieve claims that the experiences in both types of learning
are totally different.

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Definitions
According to both (Bartley & Golek , 2015) online learning is type distance learning
which has for a long time being a type of learning practiced by the America education system.
The two authors claim that it’s the largest form of distance learning. They claim that the
difference between the two forms of learning is actually the distance. On the other hand,
(SACOB, 2017) states that face to face is the type of learning where the student has to attend on
the campus on a daily basis all the lectures at a given time and days.
Online learning
According to (Imel & S, 2001) the online is becoming beneficial and popular than the
face to face method. He claims that this type of learning has in greater way expanded the field
education worldwide. He claims that this method is part of the learner's experience for a
substantial proportion of the university student. He claims that introduction of this method has
been helping since it has enabled reduce the cost of education compared to cost incurred when
undertaking the face to face education. Moreover, he argues that with this method, a student can
multi-task a lot of events at the same time of the study.
Benefits of the online learning
1. This type of learning is largely flexible in that one can learn anything even at a far
distance from the source. For instance, a student can undertake an exam and
engage in a question and answer learning with a tutor at a far distance.
2. Online learning is also lively. This means that it’s characterized by the life and the
synchronous element. Online learning empowers engagement by the addition of
the human element.

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3. It’s a very effective way of educating one since one attends the online session at
their free convenient time
4. It’s very cost-effective since there are no such things such as transport costs and
thereby necessary to combat the rising high cost of higher learning.
5. It has the ability to provide a world-class level education to anyone irrespective of
where they are globally as long as they can access the internet. (Bartley & Golek ,
2015)
Disadvantages of online learning
1. Lack of accreditation and provision of low quality of some courses; some of the courses
offered in online platforms are not accredited by the respective bodies and therefore they
end being unrecognized degrees and diplomas after completion.
2. Requires a lot of commitments due to more work; in most cases, the online courses need
a lot of time commitment due to research and personal reading than the face to face
method.
Face to face method
Advantages
1. Networking
This is a key aspect; networking is almost like the bread and butter of the business. Although
e-learning courses and do have networking potential via chat rooms, messages and emails; it
simply is not as effective as having a real-life human interaction with another person where you

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exchange handshakes and conversation. This method is more significant and is a huge bonus
which you can get from face-to-face training and means you will network more efficiently which
in itself has a lot of benefits.
2. Engagement and focus
A study conducted by (Grieve, 2014) showed that students that were learning in classes this
case representing the face to face form of learning experienced a deeper learning, immediate
feedback. They also claimed to experience convenience when it came to completion of an
assignment in the time since their time was fully dedicated to class work. The study also gave
other unique responses from the student like, they experienced, more time to talk, less
distraction, and a good interaction with each other which they claimed encouraged them to learn
more and deeper.
Major differences between the online learning and face to face learning
Although the two methods are used to achieve the same goal, there are major differences and
they are the reason as to why a student may to go for either and abandon the other.
1. In the face to face form, the learner and the tutor must be there physically unlike the
online form.
2. In online learning there is more interaction between a student with the instructor. his
guideline may be a shock, however, it's valid. F2F students verifiably assign maybe a
couple of their individuals to be "participators." These understudies solicit most of the
inquiries and give the teacher input while the others take in more discreetly. Since online
understudies can't generally watch the association of others, be set up to answer a lot of
inquiries.

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3. Online learning can lack feedback from both students and instructors. Poorly designed
online learning fails to provide feedback for everyone involved. Instructors do not know
if students understand the material or if teaching methods are working. Students aren't
sure if they are working enough or understanding all of the concepts.
Similarities between the two forms
1. In both forms of learning the goal is to finally get knowledge and therefore the rewards
are the same
2. In both methods, the students are characterized by assignments which become part of the
learning experience.
3. In both forms, there is giving and receiving assignments.
Conclusion
Each form of learning has its pros and cons. It has been a challenging question to answer
when one asks you to state to them which method is better. Therefore, we can conclude the best
method will be dictated by the environment that a learner is during that study period. If they want
to multi-task then online learning is preferable if they are in a position to carry out studies first
then the face to face form will be better. Otherwise, in today’s world, the online method is, more
reliable than the face to face form.

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References
Bartley, & Golek. (2015). the effectiveness of online learning: Beyond no significant difference
and future horizons. journal of online learning and teaching, 4.
Davies, J., and Graff, M. (2005). Performance in e-learning: online participation and student
grades. Br. J. Educ. Technol. 36, 657–663. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8535.2005.00542.x
Galway, L. P., Corbett, K. K., Takaro, T. K., Tairyan, K., and Frank, E. (2014). A novel
integration of online and flipped classroom instructional models in public health higher
education. BMC Med. Educ. 14:181. doi: 10.1186/1472-6920-14-181
Grieve, N. K. (2014). Face-to-face or face-to-screen? Undergraduates' opinions and test
performance in the classroom vs. online learning. educational psychology.
Holley, D., and Oliver, M. (2010). Student engagement and blended learning: portraits of
risk. Comput. Educ. 54, 693–700. doi: 10.1016/j.compedu.2009.08.035
Imel, & S. (2001). trends and issues alert. E-learning, 34.
Ramsden, P. (1992). Learning to Teach in Higher Education. London: Routledge
SACOB. (2017). face to face learning vs online distance learning. face to face learning vs online
distance learning, 1.