The world of today has become more and more digitalized. This is even slowly changing the global traditional education system. Traditional education requires the students to physical attend classes. Currently, face to face education is slowly disappearing in colleges all around the world. This phenomenon is called distance learning (Moore, 2010). Universities like Oxford, Utrecht and Wageningen are already offering distance learning (Vioreanu, 2017). This concept might sound like a great development for the education industry, and in some ways it is. Hopefully you are able to form your own opinion on distance learning, after reading through this blog.
One of the main advantages is the decrease in costs for universities. Distance learning does not require a classroom, or a physical campus for the students attending the course. It simply only requires a computer that is connected with the internet. This is very cost saving for universities (Kruse, 2004).
Another advantage is the decrease in costs for the students themselves. If they can attend every course online, they will not have to commute or live near their university. This is especially helpful for students in areas where there is no good university nearby.
Personalized learning is also a huge advantage. Combining the concept of distance learning with artificial intelligence, will enable the system to recognize certain patterns that students use. The online learning material will be able to adapt to this, by finding ways to help the student to learn as efficient as possible (Koller, 2011).
However, distance learning also comes with some downsides. One of those downsides, is the lack of social interaction. By taking courses behind your computer, you will not be able to talk to students and teachers compared to traditional education. Social interaction is a fundamental part for the personal development of a student, it is a way that they learn the skills that are necessary for their future jobs (Mahlangu, 2018).
Another drawback is that students are not as motivated than with traditional education. Distance education requires self-motivation. Students attending college have to go to classes, where they have friends and can socialize with new people. It is clear that this is not the case with distance learning, where you are basically studying by yourself. This makes it hard for students to stay motivated (Sherry, 1995).
So what do you think? Is distance learning a hit or a miss, and would you attend it yourself?
Moore, J. L., Dickson-Deane, C., & Galyen, K. (2011). e-Learning, online learning, and distance learning environments: Are they the same?. The Internet and Higher Education, 14(2), 129-135.
Kruse, K. (2004). The benefits and drawbacks of e-learning. Retrieved January, 11, 2009.
Koller, D. (2011). Death knell for the lecture: Technology as a passport to personalized education. New York Times, 5.
Jayadi, P., & Wahid, F. (2019). Information Technology as Science: A New Model for Learning. IJID (International Journal on Informatics for Development), 8(1), 16-19.
Vioreanu, D. (2017). 10 great European distance learning universities. Study Portals
Sherry, L. (1995). Issues in distance learning. International journal of educational telecommunications, 1(4), 337-365.
Really interesting blog, since this type of education is something I prefer. It seems strange to me that with such an IT integrated Master programme there still is no option to follow classes or watch lectures online. The combination of online and offline classes would really benefit a lot of students, with little to no downsides. Thanks for sharing.
I agree! The combination would be perfect for some students. However, students in countries with a lack of good universities, will have an opportunity to still attend a prestigious university in another country/area. Added to this, poorer families will also have the opportunity to enroll their children in better universities.
Hi Frank,
Interesting to read about all these different aspects of distance learning. However, I do believe that universities are part of our social heritage. There is great history with universities and personally I think that the physical being of a university greatly contributes to studying. Furthermore, studying is not only about gaining knowledge from books, lectures and other reading materials. During your study time you learn to work in groups and cooperate and your friends can be a great source of study advice. You are developing from an adolescent who just got out of puberty to an adult ready to take on the professional working world. The social part of being at a university greatly contributes to this matter. For me distance learning is more a tool for universities to use now and then instead of a new way of learning.
Best regards,
Britt Schijvenaars
Great comment. I agree with you, that the physical universities offer something that the digital ones can not. However, I still people should should have the option to choose between distance and regular learning. At the end of the day, there many students who simply are not able to afford to attend a traditional prestigious university. Even though distance learning has its downsides, it is still better than attending a bad/no university.
I think a combination of both would be ideal, in all honesty. My brother started an online part-time BSc just over a year ago and I’ve seen both the benefits and downsides to it. Yes, it’s great because it can all be done remote, it saves costs (for both the student and the university, in terms of facilities, etc.), and students are able to virtually meet with their group for projects whenever and wherever they want, resulting in less travel time and more flexibility in your personal lives. However, I still believe it has more downsides, as there is indeed little to no social interaction (which at the age of 19-23 is incredibly important for self development, both personally and professionally). Additionally, it might also trigger the level of discipline of an individual, as there is no need to get up extra early to catch your bus, bike to uni before it rains, or be the early bird to get a spot at uni. Seeing this especially from my brother’s perspective, a combination of both seems to work ideally, as he had his online classes in the evenings (allowing him to focus on his trainings during the day) and would have to meet for group assignments and exams for a whole weekend every 4-5 weeks.
For our university, I definitely believe a combination would be great as it reduces the traffic on campus and opens up more study areas for the (really) dedicated ones 😉
Thank you for your thought invoking comment. I completely agree with what you just said. It definitely has more downsides, I just chose to mention the one I thought which were important. The statement you made is also true, since people can be free to look through their course material whenever they want. This is especially helpful if you work full time, and your company requires you to get another degree. The level of flexibility can be especially convenient for those people. The reduce in traffic is indeed a benefit, however, most universities have enough study space to accommodate their own students. Erasmus is more the exception to the rule.
Dear Frank,
thanks for that input on the possible digitization of the educational industry. However, I kind of disagree with one of the downsides you mention. I do believe, that social interaction can be built in to online degrees, especially with regard to course content-specific interaction. Here, modern technologies like AR, but also simpler technologies like chatrooms and skype could easily enable online in-class discussions or facilitate face-to-face Q&A sessions. Of course this, however, cannot replace the outside-class social interaction which is still a hurdle to overcome.
Hi Sophie,
good comment! Although I believe VR is able to make up a part of the online class discussions, it will not be able to account for the other social aspects. There is not small talk, networking or just getting to know someone during the break or after class. These are are social skills, that are necessary for the transition of an adolescent to an adult.
Dear Frank, interesting and very current actual subject. I really think distance learning will be a good add-on for our current eduction system. People who cant afford due to financial, personal or any other reason to move to a place with a university could make good use of this system. Distance learning would be a easy, cheap and good step to get the same changes as everyone. However, I believe that the on and around campus experience is way more important than the knowledge you receive from the lectures. Educating yourself is important, but outside and on your university you develop yourself truly. Therefore, companies will differ between traditional diploma’s and distance diploma’s. Since people with traditional education, will be more all around skilled and useful for companies, these diploma’s will be worth more. Hence, traditional eduction will be valued higher over time as well.
Hi Sven, good comment! There is definitely a difference between degrees from traditional and online universities. However, you do have to realize that sometimes people simply do not have the necessary resource to attend a prestigious university. Having a degree (albeit with distance learning) give students with financial struggles an opportunity to still get a degree at a prestigious university. In my opinion, traditional education will never completely disappear because of the higher value you just mentioned. But nobody knows what the future holds in this area, since distance learning is seen a disruptive for the current educational industry.
Hi Frank,
Thank you for your interesting blog post! I would like to comment on it as I have recently participated in a MOOC class of MIT Sloan School of Management – The Implications of Artificial Intelligence on Business Strategy. First of all, I agree with the argument with regard to the reduction in costs for universities, as they can reach a much bigger audience by offering MOOC classes regardless of geographical location. From my perspective, another advantage for universities would be that they only have to design the MOOC class once, and can subsequently reuse and offer it throughout different semesters. In addition, I believe MOOC classes are very convenient and advantageous for students, as they can often choose when to devote their time on the program (aunder the assumption that you have weekly modules). Consequently, students experience flexibility with regard to classes and lectures of the program. In addition, students get the opportunity to broaden their horizon by studying a wide variety of subjects – with low entry requirements.
Downside of MOOC classes indeed include the lack of social interaction, however often students are encouraged to communicate with their fellow classmates through means such as Slack – which foster interaction and communication with fellow students. However, I do disagree with you with regard to the motivation of students engaged in MOOC classes. In my opinion, the main motivation to enroll in MOOC classes comes from the individual himself/herself, be it for personal development or professional objectives. For this reason, I believe that only highly motivated students will choose to enroll in MOOC programs.
I think MOOC classes are a definite hit. After my pleasant experience during the AI MOOC of MIT, I will definitely seek more online programs in the future!
Great comment Elizabeth! I wonder what your personal experiences are with your MOOC of MIT. I chose to not mention MOOC’s in my blog, because I just wanted to explain the basics of distance learning. However, it is indeed an important addition to distance learning. I agree with all of your benefits and downsides, except for the motivational part. Students at traditional universities also have a lack of motivation, even though they chose to study themselves e.g. the drop out rates of business administration at Erasmus. This effect will increase, since there is no incentive for them to actually follow every single lecture, and read through material online. One of those reasons is because it is not pleasant to go through everything alone. Another reason might be peer pressure. If people in your environment (motivated students) start studying, and talk about the materials, you will want to talk about it with them. This can only be done if you actually study and prepare yourself. These forces are almost non-existent in distance learning.
Even though, I really support some of the evolvements towards towards distance leaning, I still think that there are a few other factors for which you didn’t account. Take medical school for example, where practical skills are essential in the development of the students. Since those skills cannot yet be taught digitally, educations which are more practical, could become less attractive to students. This could potentially lead to a shortage of practical people.
Hi Ben, great comment! I completely agree with what you just mentioned, distance learning is definetely not applicable for every single trajectory. However, as some people mentioned in the comments below, a combination of distance learning and practical classes could be a solution for those trajectories. This would still lead to a decrease in costs, since they dont need to accommodate those students as often as they would with traditional education.
Interesting blog! I still think the social aspect is often undervalued in these types of the debates so I am really happy to see that it is incorporated in this blog.
We are social animals and at the end of the day we need social contact. Our whole society and economy is based on social interaction. Why do certain enterprises do business with each other? Because of the humans that interconnect with each other! Why is that political party able to do so many reforms? Because they have the social skills to satisfy the people.
Technology is great and this idea of studying online is highly beneficial for certain groups, but it shouldn’t be the new paradigm. Distance learning should be complimentary, an addition, an extension to the current education system
Hi Justin,
Great comment! I completely agree with your argument, that distance learning should be an extension to most people. However, it could be valuable alternative to those ‘certain groups’ you mentioned. Sometimes they simple do not have the time/resources to attend a traditional university. This gives a lot of people a new opportunity to get a degree in a respected university.