Today’s student could be considered more plugged-in than ever. Textbooks have gone digital and laptops have replaced notebooks in many lecture halls and laboratories. Even the classroom itself has gone electronic. However, Keene State College students still prefer the “analog” classroom over the virtual alternative.
According to an informal poll of almost 500 KSC students, 82 percent prefer the traditional classroom over the newer online adaptation. “You don’t get the same experience from a tiny screen as you get from living and breathing in a classroom environment. For some classes, the online setting may work, but nothing beats physically being in the same room as your professor and classmates,” KSC student Matthew Bergman stated.
A 2013 Washington State University study uncovered similar results, as described in an editorial in the New York Times. “Lacking confidence as well as competence, students need engagement with their teachers to feel comfortable and to succeed,” the study proved.
Sophomore secondary education major Matthew Ahlberg said, “Traditional classes promote social interaction, not the kind you use online today but traditional one-on-one discussing in real life. They allow students to develop communication skills, social interaction skills and help assist with public speaking.”
Traditional classrooms also offer the ability to make connections that may lead to professional opportunities. Accredited Online Colleges (AOC) is an organization that informs students of accredited online programs to help avoid enrolling in a “diploma mill.”
Allie Norman / Equinox Staff
According to the AOC, the traditional classroom creates much better networking opportunities and far more face-to-face interactions. AOC said in an article titled “Online Versus Traditional Schools from a Student’s Perspective,” “University professors remain one of the biggest assets traditional programs have.”
The article continued, “Regardless of the number of webcasted lectures, informative videos, or insightful studies online services can offer, the role of the professor will remain a benefit that traditional programs hold.”
Additionally, trends emerged among reasons for choosing traditional classrooms. One of these is the physical burden learning from a computer creates.
“I like the personal interaction with a professor. I don’t like staring at a computer screen,” senior Stephanie Murray said.
“Sitting and reading from a computer screen hurts my eyes after a while,” sophomore Amanda Williams said. Furthermore, another trend among students was for them, it is easier to focus in a traditional classroom.
“I learn better doing hands-on learning and focus better in a classroom setting. It would be hard not to get distracted doing an online class,” sophomore Amber Long said.
The article “Online Learning in Higher Education,” from the Education Next website stated there is a concern that online classes provide a low quality of learning and take away from a personalized education experience.
Despite the concern, the article’s authors specified differences in success rates were irrelevant. “There are no groups of students that benefited from or were harmed by the hybrid format consistently across mutiple learning outcomes,” the article reads. Later, the article presented evidence that showed students reported a low level of appreciation for online classes. The researchers tested students from State University of New York, the University at Albany, SUNY Institute of Technology, University of Maryland, Towson University, City University of New York, Baruch College and City College.
It reported more students from the tested universities preferred traditional classrooms. Online students reported they learned less and they experienced more difficulty in the course.
One KSC student expressed a similar opinion about online classes. Jonathan Musci, a junior education major said, “I am more motivated to do well with a traditional class. Also I find instruction from the professor to be helpful.”
In contrast, Joseph Piselli, a sophomore at KSC, supported online classes. “I would be able to retain more and learn the material at a pace that I would feel more comfortable with,” Piselli said.
However, while a large number of students chose traditional classroom setting, 14 percent of students did choose virtual/online classes.
There is evidence that online classes may be utilized in the future. The “Online Learning in Higher Education,” article reported, online classes reduce the expense of education and can be used to teach people of diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. Other potential benefits include economic savings.
The article stated saving could range from thirty-six percent to fifty-seven percent. “These simulations confirm that hybrid learning offers opportunities for significant savings,” researchers said.
They continued saying in order for savings to be seen, the online program needs to be implemented for a few years before results would be seen.
The article “10 Advantages to Taking Online Class” from the Open Education Database website stated online classes are an effective way for professionals who are attempting to earn another work degree around their schedule.
KSC sophomore Tyler Mckelvie agreed that online classes are flexible. “You can take it on your own time,” Mckelvie said.
Junior Harrison Hollingsworth said, “I can work at my own pace.” In addition, students admitted to leaning towards the simpler setting.
Nicole Gregory is a first-year history and theater student. She said, “I have done both and have found that virtual classes work better for me personally because I can work at my own pace, and when it is more convenient.”
Other students who take classes online do not see the computer as a barrier to getting a quality education. Christopher Dejohn stated, “I feel I can get the same level of education on the Internet as I do in the classroom.”
Nonetheless, the W.S.U. study produced results which went against online courses.
“The study found that those who took higher proportions of online courses were less likely to earn degrees or transfer to four-year colleges,” it stated.
Despite this debate, it is beneficial to take note of those who would prefer a blended course, where the class meets in a traditional classroom but also does work online. Three percent of students surveyed chose a blended option.
Regan Driscoll, a senior, said that the value of a blended class depends on variables such as the quality of the professor. “I’m in a blended course right now that meets every other week. My experience in an online only course was great but I also had a great teacher and it was very appropriate for the subject,” Driscoll said.
Further, the study showed blended courses have been proven beneficial.
According to the study, “Students in hybrid classes — those that blended online instruction with a face-to-face component — performed as well academically as those in traditional classes. But hybrid courses are rare, and teaching professors how to manage them is costly and time-consuming.”
The informal poll was conducted by Keene State College Print Journalism 230 students.
Ellissa Coburn, Kathryn Raymond, Sabrina Lapointe, Jenn Zinka, and Zach Fournier contributed to this article.
David Walsh can be contacted at dwalsh@keene-equinox.com
Diana Pimer can be contacted at dpimer@keene-equinox.com