Thinking of upskilling? Classroom vs. Online.

Jeremy Wong
Aug 31, 2018 · 4 min read

Two questions arise when online education is mentioned: “Why should I do online? I have always been learning in classrooms!”, and “Why should I pay for it when there are free courses available?!”

Online vs. In-Person Learning

The first question is valid — Online education was meant to circumvent geographical and time constraints, and it does a good job as long as its delivery is top-notch. However, considering how well connected most big cities are today, is there a real need for online? Also, doesn’t in-person learning lead to better outcomes due to more frequent interaction opportunities with professors and classmates?

The power of the internet is such that even a traditional brick-and-mortar industry like education can be democratized — you don’t have to go to Boston to learn from Harvard professors, Coursera can get you there. Second, the emphasis on learning outcomes belies the true question: how to make classes more engaging for students. Online learning opens up a set of tools and mechanism that involves the student on a deeper level. Good learning outcomes stem from great delivery, and great delivery exists in both online and in-person learning.

Comparison of good and bad deliveries for online and in-person learning

To achieve good delivery and hence good learning outcomes, online education needs to increase the level of interaction between professors and classmates. This translates into shorter lead time in question and answer sessions with the emergence of online discussion forums, live webinars sessions, WhatsApp (or other messaging platforms) and email communication. Secondly, there are more engaging content with variations of content delivery and interactive activities conducted (e.g. videos, live webinar sessions, interactive assignments etc.). For example, platforms such as Coursera, Udemy and UpGrad incorporate regular assessments in-between delivery sessions to replicate the dreaded cold-calling element in classrooms. (Yes, you can’t escape it even in an online setting!) This encourages students to learn and absorb information better.

Free vs. Paid Online Education

Disclaimer: I refer to paid programs as a standardized product. I am painfully aware that there is a huge fluctuation in the quality of paid online program offerings, but I commit this transgression to simplify and broadly establish the differences between paid and free online programs.

Mainstream awareness of online education was built via MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and hence, there is a large assumption that online education = free. When making a purchase decision, there is a struggle to understand the cost-benefit analysis of paid online education.

Back to first principles: Why do people traditionally want to receive an education? Why do people enrol in university programs? These are the four key broad reasons:

1. Academics: Obtaining knowledge and academic concepts from others who have more knowledge and experience that you in a subject through a structured curriculum

2. Prestige: Reputable certification and credentials with broad acceptance by the public (especially employers)

3. Network: Expansion of social circle (especially from other backgrounds), be it your peers or teachers

4. Placements: Career assistance, including resume and interview tips and opportunity to connect with potential employers

While free online education generally does well in teaching content (academics), and many MOOCs platforms have a wide array of great universities to choose from (prestige factor), it rarely provides a good network and placement services. Most free online education is like buying a library membership, albeit with a highly curated collection of books written by well-regarded authors. Paid online education is like getting admitted into a top-class university: you not only have a wealth of material at your disposal, you have instructors to guide you, teaching assistants to monitor you, career services to help you in your career etc. Remember, there are no free lunches in this world!

How then, to shop for good online education?

First, ensure the curriculum is legitimate. Ask for trials and sample the material. Have someone who knows the field to vet for you. It also helps that the material is developed by renowned institutions. Talk to admission counsellors. Do your due diligence!

Second, ask about added-on services. Online education should not only empower you with knowledge, it should also help you with finding a job, matching you with industry mentors, running in-person events to help you network.

Governments also have a strong role to play in championing innovation in learning technologies. Currently most grants and subsidies are given to traditional, in-person learning formats. Only a handful of online education providers receive any funding. Should governments lead the way in advocating online learning formats through grants, the confidence in online learning should surge, and along with it, education productivity.

Written by

Jeremy is currently the Regional Manager of UpGrad South-East Asia, an up and coming online education provider targeted at working professionals

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