Distance Learning – Is it as effective as traditional classroom learning?

Almost everyone has participated in some sort of e-learning program, whether it be corporately mandated or for personal education. This begs to say that it is more effective in some ways than traditional brick-and-mortar classroom training.

Distance learning is rather self-descriptive. It is a means to satisfy an educational end without the need to step into a classroom. For that very reason, distance learning is becoming more popular in this day and age where time is becoming our most valuable asset. Distance learning allows working-class individuals to continue their job that is so necessary to maintain their lifestyle while also pursuing a path of higher education. Not only is distance learning valuable in its own way to the student, but also to the institution offering it. Distance learning requires far less staff than a traditional brick-and-mortar classroom setting. Educational institutions won't require faculty to be present for the duration of the class since the class is held on the students time in the place of their choosing. Not only does it cut back on the staff requirements, but it allows unique subjects to be taught regardless of having the experienced personnel. For example if you wanted to learn a foreign language, but the class isn't offered locally because no one speaks it well enough to instruct. Distance learning can solve that problem.

Distance learning isn’t so perfect that it trumps the traditional classroom setting in every way. Because of its very nature, distance learning cuts out almost all of the social benefits from physical classrooms. The instructors are harder to reach and in some cases they don’t even exist, you have little to no camaraderie with fellow classmates as they are usually no more than just a block of text to you if you even have classmates, and you’ll miss out on many of the real-world scenarios that inevitably get introduced in a traditional classroom environment. For younger students, down in the high school and lower level, these are potentially serious developmental factors as many states are employing e-learning schools to facilitate more rural or less desirable districts. Young people rely on the interaction found in classrooms to develop successful social skills in real world environments.

Is distance learning more effective than traditional classroom learning? I believe it would be more effective a student 50 miles from the nearest community college campus with only limited classes, but all the time in the world on their hands. For the budding intelligent young person to choose e-learning over a 5 minute bus ride to their zoned high school, I believe it would be detrimental to their development and could potentially stunt their budding intellect due to poor social skills. The effectiveness of distance learning is going to be situational, but more often than not, I believe it will prevail over standard learning in a physical environment.

References:
Grubbs, Linda. "Get Smart: The Pluses and Minuses of E-Learning." PC World Nov. 2000: 116-23. EBSCO. Web. 4 Aug. 2010.
Silverman, Fran. "The Pros and Cons of Distance Learning." District Administrators. N.p., Dec. 2001. EBSCO. Web. 4 Aug. 2010.
"Is Online Learning Here to Stay?" Consulting-Specifying Engineer Mar. 2004: 11-12. EBSCO. Web. 4 Aug. 2010.