When it comes to online education and traditional education, there are benefits and drawbacks, which is why students should be aware of what to expect before attending a classroom or logging into one. In this comparison, we’ll look at some crucial areas where students’ experiences can differ significantly.

What is online education

Online learning is a type of distance learning that takes place over the internet, with the teacher providing a course at a specific time (synchronous) or the students completing a course at their own pace (asynchronous). The content is delivered in the form of text, images, or videos. Features such as online assessments may be included, as well as interactive activities.

Also Read: What is Distance Learning: What are it’s Benefits?

What is traditional education?

Traditional Educational Class

Education traditionally takes place in a classroom. A teacher plans and teaches a specific topic lesson, using a variety of educational tools. For example, the teacher might present information on a blackboard or whiteboard, conduct classroom discussions, have groups or partners complete tasks, and engage students in individual exercises. Assign homework, class quizzes, or conduct informal assessments are part of the class.

Flexibility Factor

One of the most important factors to consider when weighing your options is how much time and energy you have each day to dedicate to your studies. Will you be able to attend full-time school/college or do you need more flexibility to accommodate your busy life.

In the first place, the most obvious benefit of online education is its flexibility. It allows you to work, support a family, and take classes all at the same time. Moreover, online classes also have deadlines, which gives students more control over how they spend their time. They can plan when to study, work on projects or assignments, attend lectures, and so on.

There is frequently a lack of flexibility in a traditional class format. You must attend your classes in person, which normally involves a commute and stringent scheduling. However, there are still a number of flexible class options available. If you want to take classes on a school/college campus, you can look for a school that can let you plan a schedule that fits your need.

Educational Apps Directory List

Self-Discipline and Self-Motivation Factor

As previously said, attending school or college classes online provides students with greater freedom and control over their education. This, in return, requires a high level of self-discipline and self-motivation. You must be able to encourage yourself to finish essential reading and projects in an online class. You need to be able to manage your time effectively. However, these capabilities are also needed in traditional education.

Online lessons may be a good fit for you if you can work independently and manage your time properly. If you find it difficult to keep up with an online class, a more traditional environment can be more beneficial. It’s important to remember that becoming fully adjusted to online learning takes time. Setting a daily schedule and setting up a private workspace is just a couple of tactics you might use to ease into online education.

Social Interaction Factor

Many people wish for the traditional college experience, which includes classrooms, whiteboards, and walking around campus. Some people prefer to meet their teachers and classmates in person, and some people learn better that way. A traditional classroom format may benefit you if you are more of a social learner.

One common misperception about online education is that it does not require any interaction. In reality, your classmates and teachers are right at your fingertips! Collaborative resources such as Blackboard and video conferencing software are frequently used in online classes to stimulate regular exchanges, discussions, and brainstorming.

Selecting a learning website is a crucial step for any learner to start their online education. The article provides a list of websites to choose from.

Technology has advanced in such a way that educational resources are now available anytime at anywhere. Several learning websites provide useful resources such as informative video tutorials, lectures, DIY guides, presentations, explanations in animated form which help students gain important skills, updated information and educational programs. Many sites offer free lessons to learn. However, choosing the right educational website is crucial.

Must Read:  Is Smart Education the Future?

Here is a list of learning websites you can use –

1. TED Ed video library

This video library on YouTube includes a wide variety of educational videos designed specifically for learning community. Explanatory tutorials and animations created by educators and teachers cover a given topic. It also includes quiz and discussion questions.

2. Explania

This web platform provides animated explanations in videos and interactive infographics. A great resource for teachers and students, the videos cover topics including geography, biology and more. Users can also share these videos.

3. HowStuffWorks

It offers interesting and useful details on a wide variety of topics ranging from finance to electronics. For instance, even you can check how the car engine works in this site. It is commonly referred to as an edutainment website.

4. Coursera

One of the top online do-it-yourself learning websites, Coursera offers free learning courses from leading U.S. universities and is open to anyone. Upon completion, learners can get a completion certificate.

5. PhraseMix

The site helps students to learn English phrases in a new way. This helps students to improve their English reading and writing skills.

6.Poetry.RapGenius.com

Very useful for English literature students, the site includes poetry and literature from scholars. By clicking on a line in any given song, users can also see a user generated interpretation of the text.

7. Wikipedia.org

Although tutors do not recommend Wikipedia as a reference source in assignments, this popular online encyclopedia is a very useful tool for research in classroom assignments or project.

8. Time4Learning

A reliable website for homeschoolers, the website helps students from pre-classes through high school with teaching resources in diverse subjects including mathematics, language arts, social studies, and science.

9. Standard Deviants Accelerate

The site offers e-learning programs for middle and high school students. With resources such as video tutorials, it follows teach and re-teach system to help students learn, progress, and master a subject.

10. ShillerMath – Montessori Math at Home

Unlike other math programs, the site follows a Montessori approach. It offers three kits for Pre-K to Pre-Algebra and the lesson books are used as texts for teaching more than as workbooks.

11. FortunaPixs

The site‘s 3D digital education content including Life to Learning (L2L) videos and learning objects are helpful for global middle and high school sciences.

12. Science4Us.com

With over 350 online animated lessons, the website is ideal for K-2nd Grade. Well-organized and easy to navigate content with separate tabs for four areas of science, makes the website easy to use.

13. Learni.st

Accessible all the time, users can save resources into a media-rich board and even re-visit them without spending time for searching. This reliable platform is also included in TIME magazine’s best websites in 2012.

14. HowToLearn.com

This top learning site comes with clear information on how to learn and solve learning as well as reading problems. Users can also benefit from the FREE Learning Styles Quiz, tips, and resources for faster learning in all subjects.

15. Reading Eggs

Developed by experienced teachers, writers, animators and developers, the program is intended for kids aging 4 to 8. It teaches them how to read.

You May also Like: 25 Free Educational Websites You Shouldn’t Miss

16. TutorZ.com

This is an online tutoring referral service can help students and parents to find a private tutor. The site helps to easily find quality tutors at an affordable and better price.

17. Fascinating Education

This site can easily teach science including Biology, Chemistry and Physics using an audio-visual technique. The teaching approach uses brain’s ability to capture images than reading text.

18. The Happy Scientist

The site offers informative videos covering diverse topics including earth, space, physical science and more.

19. Read Naturally, Inc.

The website’s reading intervention strategy combines methods such as teacher-modeling, repeated reading and progress monitoring. Users can also choose sample lessons and other better reading resources.

20. Time4Writing

Time4Writing offers free online writing courses and resources for 2 to12th Grade. Students can improve their writing skills at all levels.

21. VocabularySpellingCity

Through engaging activities, the site allows learners to build their skills in vocabulary and spelling. Spelling games make it easy for the students to learn words better.

22. Openeducationsource.weebly.com

For home schooling, this free site offers educational resources for subjects including math, science, social studies, English and more.

23. ABCya!

Developed by expert teachers, this website provides free educational games for K-5 grades. With level lessons focused on math and language arts, it also helps to improve basic computer skills.

24. Freedom Project Education

Following a classical curriculum, this online school offers a complete education for students in Kindergarten to High School.

25. Open Culture

Ranging from science and art to math and economics, this site offers about 400 free online courses from leading universities such as Stanford, Columbia and Oxford University.

26. Drawspace

With interactive lessons, it provides techniques to improve drawing skills. PDF tutorials with step by step instructions are also useful.

27. Better Explained

Highly beneficial for high school and college students, the site offers visual explanations for math topics. Topics include calculus, natural logarithm, statistics and algebra.

28. Stanford Online

Stanford Online provides free online courses for lifelong learners around the world. Courses are for a wide array of topics such as human rights, language, economics, physics, engineering, software, and more.

29. University of the People

One among the top online learning websites, it provides university level education. Courses are tuition-free and small fee is required for certified degree exams.

30. Khan Academy

The academy provides opportunity for students to learn about any subject of their desire. The site can be easily handled, even for a school child.

31. W3 Schools

Designed for web design courses, this free e-Learning website teaches several programming languages including HTML, PHP, SQL and Jquery. A final test will help students to check their mastery in the learned course.

32. Codecademy

Enhanced accessibility to coding, is what the site aims at. This online interactive platform offers free coding classes for different languages such as Java, PHP and CSS.

33. ABCMouse

Suitable for home preschool concept, this online educational website for preschool and Kindergarten provides a complete curriculum for kids to improve their learning.

34. Sesame Street

The site includes video clips and play games for younger children that help them easily learn letters, rhymes, sounds, colors and more and more.

35. Make Me Genius

Aiming to make the student a genius, this online platform comes with kid-friendly videos that cover a wide variety of subjects, including photosynthesis, the nervous system, solar system and electricity.