Online School vs. Traditional School

Online school has steadily grown in popularity among high school and college students.

The word “high school” might make you think of learners hanging out in dorm quarters or gathering for classes for different subjects. But that portrayal is growing increasingly outdated as technology provides for more and more ways to learn.

Online and distance learning has steadily grown in popularity among high school students, but does that mean it’s a good option for you? To help you answer that question, take some time to compare and contrast online school versus traditional school.

Comparing Online School Versus Traditional School

Both online school and the traditional school have pros and cons, so it’s vital for students to understand what to expect before they step foot—or log into—the classroom.

Online Vs. Traditional School: Flexibility

One of the crucial elements to consider when weighing the options is the amount of time you have to dedicate to homework. Are you willing to attend high school full-time, or do you require more flexibility to work around your busy schedule?

Online School

The benefit of online schools is that they offer the student flexibility. This is an excellent choice for those who already have time commitments with family and job. Online classes will mold with your schedule—and enable you to log into your online course at a time that works best for you, as opposed to having to attend a lecture at a specific time.

Many online school courses will follow a weekly format where learners are expected to log in, read course materials, contribute to online class discussions, and complete assignments before the beginning of the next week. You’ll still have a lot of time to do all this for each class—but you’ll have more options for fitting the work in around other commitments.

Traditional School

Generally speaking, this is the best option for learners with little more freedom in their schedules. That said, traditional school students do have some flexibility in their scheduling in that some schools provide night classes or classes that follow a program where they meet only once per week.

One factor to consider when scheduling is travel time to school—a long commute can certainly make schedules problematic, especially if you’re planning on working while in school.

Online Vs. Traditional School: Discipline & Self-Motivation

Something else to consider while weighing your high school decisions is your level of self-discipline. Traditional and online schools certainly require some discipline to succeed, but there can be significant variances in how learning is structured. These structural variations can have a significant impact on your ability to stay on track.

Online School

The increased flexibility of online learning comes with a bit of a trade-off—you’ll require to be highly self-motivated. All high school classes require learners to keep abreast of required reading and assignments, but some students may struggle to stay motivated when learning from the comfort of their home.

The best online learners develop tactics for staying up to date on their coursework. Things like setting aside time every week for studying and creating a work space with minimal distractions can assist greatly.

Traditional School

The structured schedule of attending traditional class a handful of times per week and having routine face-to-face interactions with teachers can aid keep students on task.

When it comes to discipline and motivation, traditional school does have an advantage in the eyes of many. The structured schedule of attending class a handful of times per week and having routine face-to-face interactions with teachers can aid keep students on task. Learners in traditional school, on-campus settings have more opportunities to be reminded of upcoming assignments, which can help if you tend to postpone on large, time-consuming homework.

Online Vs. Traditional School: The Blended School Model

By now, it’s probably becoming clear to you that both online and traditional schooling have their perks. So, is there a way to get the best of the two? One choice that is increasing in popularity is referred to as “blended learning.”

In this format, the curriculum is designed to implement both traditional, in-person learning and online courses. The implementation of this can vary greatly, based on the subject and educator. But as an example, instructors may require only meeting once a week for lectures, while assigning assignments or other activities for learners to complete online on their own time. This enables learners to receive some of the positives from face-to-face social learning while still allowing for scheduling flexibility.

Another example would be a program that provides some courses on campus and others online. The idea here is that particular courses involve material that is conducive to online studies, while other lessons can only be taught in a physical classroom or lab.

Online or Traditional School? The Choice is Yours

In the case of online school vs. traditional school, there is no right or wrong answer. Much of it comes down to personal preference and understanding how you learn best. These learning formats can all be very effective, no matter your personal learning style and condition.

It’s vital to do some self-evaluation before diving into a full high school course load.

References and Resources

• Types of Blended Learning