In the age of online learning, it’s sometimes easy to forget there are still plenty of opportunities to learn by attending a physical course. In fact, some institutions have found that in-person training leads to greater job satisfaction and stronger returns than online learning.
As online learning grows, it’s become a hot topic for debate. Many educators believe that in-person learning is better than online learning. Learning new things is the key to career transition success. And what better way to do that than to do it in person with other motivated professionals?
Through in-person learning, you will enjoy the added benefits of personal interaction and networking with others at the same stage of their career transition.
In addition, you can take advantage of highly qualified instructors, many of whom have been there, done that, and carved out rewarding careers after transitioning themselves.
Here, I discuss why in-person learning is better than online learning, and discuss some of the reasons that have made me lean toward this opinion.
What Is In-Person Learning?
In-person learning is a style of teaching and learning in which students, teachers, and the learning content all meet at one time and place.
It is different from online education because in-person classes have some components not found in other types of learning. Some of these are physical presence, tactile representation, and interaction.
In-person learning is about seeing, hearing, touching, and experiencing.
By learning together in a physical space, you grab hold of new concepts and skills through active learning groups, one-on-one tutorials, or hands-on exercises that inspire a sense of mastery in your ability to grow.
Also, attending an in-person class means you don’t have to worry about bandwidth or streaming videos. You have access to the instructor and classmates from start to finish.
What Is the Importance of In-Person Learning?
Physical learning is important because students can focus, eliminating outside distractions.
Furthermore, you can learn in real time, receive feedback about your performance, and use the class to catch up on homework.
Online learning has a linear approach to teaching, which doesn’t always work for today’s youth. Also, with in-person education, you can learn everything you need to succeed in your chosen field in the time it takes to complete it.
The purpose of in-person learning is to learn by interacting with other people and via hands-on experiences. For example, classrooms generally allow students to speak with teachers and other students.
Teachers can also demonstrate the material and then ask students to replicate it, answer questions, or speculate on results. This type of learning offers more depth than online education.
Why Is In-Person Learning Better than Online Learning?
In-person learning is better than online learning because in-person training allows you to see and do, increasing understanding and knowledge.
By using gestures, demonstrations, and other visual cues, in-person instruction can help learners retain information for a longer period.
In-person learning may seem like an unusual option in our digital age. However, there are many advantages to learning in a classroom setting compared with learning online.
Other reasons that make in-person learning better than online education include:
1. Engagement Is Higher
Engaging learners is critical in this fast-paced, always-connected world. But how do you do it? Especially when your students are online at all times.
In-person learning is your answer. Engagement and motivation in a classroom setting produce better results than any online course.
That’s because learning the old-fashioned way gives you the best results. Your engagement is higher, your satisfaction is greater, your retention is longer and your collaboration with other students is unparalleled.
Hands-on training, for example, is more engaging and facilitates a deeper understanding of the material than typing notes or reading from a screen.
Also, studies show that in-person learning provides a more active learning experience and leads to better grades, reduced stress, and greater overall satisfaction.
2. Face-To-Face Communication Makes Learning More Effective and Efficient
Online learning is convenient and accessible, but it’s no substitute for in-person learning. In face-to-face education, you learn to relate to each other as individuals.
You discover aspects of one another that are not visible from a distance or through words on a screen. Educators and psychologists say this kind of interaction makes learning more efficient and effective.
Essentially, face-to-face communication allows students to receive feedback from other students and teachers. When students interact, they can differentiate and correct mistakes that another person may have made earlier.
3. You Get a Community around You Not Just One-On-One Teaching like Online Courses
In-person learning allows you to learn from others in a classroom setting. By getting together in person, you can build a community around you with people from all backgrounds.
You get one-on-one teaching like online courses, but you also have the benefits of meeting in person with a teacher and a group of peers to interact and ask questions.
Additionally, the concept of in-person learning is to surround yourself with other people and experience something together. You are learning more than a skill or a thought. By physically being in a room with others, you create an avenue for information to spread from one person to the next.
You also gain information from each other through your interactions, whether intentional or not. That can lead to interesting conversations and connections generated naturally with in-person learning.
4. It’s Easier to Collaborate and Build Relationships in Real Life than Online or over the Phone
The physical experience forces you to cooperate with other people and communicate your ideas in a group dynamic. You can’t escape from socializing in the classroom with live teachers, classmates, and friends.
Also, virtual and online learning is socially isolated, leading to a lack of motivation and missed opportunities for collaboration. Online learning works well for convenience and doesn’t allow for human connection.
5. The Classroom Nature Makes It Easy to Pay Attention
Since in-person learning involves interaction with others and the instructor, you will be more engaged in the lesson. That tends to keep your mind on the subject more than online classes.
Also, by asking questions, you can gain a more thorough understanding of the subject, which helps you learn better.
In addition, there is no problem with missing a class because meeting face-to-face gives you a chance to get caught up on any lost material easily.
6. There’s Repetition in Real-Life Interactions That Increases Retention and Builds Connections
Repeated interactions build connections that reinforce the relationship between the students and the teachers. Our interactions with each other and the material we’re learning in person make our experiences truly unique.
Therefore, in-person learning allows us to utilize social responses, experience feedback from other learners, and build a network support system that doesn’t exist in the online world.
7. Learners Can Get Feedback and Get Questions Answered Easier
Personal learning has many benefits. It is more interactive, which leads to better results, helps develop a person’s presentation skills, and also helps with retention.
Face-to-face training allows you to receive feedback quickly and help with any questions you may have during the learning process.
It’s often more interesting since things can get lost in translation with online learning. That means it can be better for remembering your skills and getting feedback on how you’re doing in class.
Also, an instructor can give you one-on-one technical questions and ask how you’re feeling about the class.
8. Closer Relationships with Peers and Teachers
In-person education offers students a closer relationship with their educators than can be achieved through web-based courses or MOOCs. Along with learning what’s in front of them, students also benefit from interacting with other students and teachers.
By attending an in-person training course or workshop, you can make a deeper connection with the instructor and other students, leading to increased learning and comprehension, better networking opportunities, and opportunities for future employment.
In addition, in-person learning allows instructors and students to share their passion for the subject during group discussions.
9. More Informal and Relaxed Environment
With programs that offer hands-on learning and practical application, in-person training is a great option if your school schedule allows it.
Some people learn better in a more informal and relaxed environment, physically moving about to understand concepts. That’s why it is different from an online school where the focus is on reading and taking tests.
Also, with in-person lessons, you are likely to learn more because the instructors usually adapt faster to students’ different learning styles and needs.
10. Meet People outside of Class to Discuss Topics Together
Learning happens more effectively when you talk about challenges outside of class with other people rather than struggling to figure things out alone.
Instead of talking at a computer monitor, you’re talking to your classmates as you go over each lesson, sharing insights and discussing topics together.
There are no distractions when you’re meeting people outside of class. You also have the opportunity to focus on the topic at hand in a way that’s impossible with online instruction.
What Are the Disadvantages of In-Person Learning?
The biggest disadvantage of regular, in-person learning is that it is expensive. The other expenses include travel and the time spent in the classroom or a training room. Also, a classroom setting is not always the best place to absorb, retain, and act on information.
Although it has many benefits (such as hands-on labs and opportunities to collaborate with other students), it also has a few disadvantages: travel costs, missed work, and expensive meals on campus.
Having to be physically present with your instructor can also be quite inconvenient. That can be difficult if you live a great distance away or have other time restrictions.
While the interactive experience of in-person learning is typically worth the price tag, some people just aren’t willing to incur those costs and opt for more flexible online education.
Additionally, the curriculum requires more time and energy than online learning. However, you will be learning in a real-world environment, which can be beneficial if it is a skill you need in both your personal and professional lives.
FAQs
Why is online learning better than in-person learning?
Online learning is a better educational tool than in-person learning because it’s convenient, faster, and cheaper.
Online learning speeds up the process of educating yourself because you don’t have to go out of your way to seek out the information.
With online learning, you have access to an almost unlimited amount of knowledge at a time that is convenient for you, from your computer and the comfort of your home.
Is in-person learning better than hybrid learning?
No, in-person learning is not necessarily better than hybrid learning as hybrid education combines in-person and virtual classes.
Some positives of hybrid learning are personal interaction with knowledgeable instructors, direct interaction with fellow learners, and targeted feedback.
Hybrid learning means that you get in-person help with the education process but don’t always have to attend face-to-face classes.
What are the challenges of in-person learning?
Limited availability, travel time, and cost can all add up to a lousy experience for both you and your teachers.
Teachers are among the lowest-paid professionals out there. Having to commute to school daily also adds to their expenses.
In addition, due to inadequate budgets in most public schools, teachers are forced to spend their money purchasing materials needed to teach. These expenses decrease with online classes.
Conclusion
Learning in person is always better than learning online. In-person learning helps you remember coursework easier, make friends with other people from diverse backgrounds, and build confidence through practical, real-life skill-based activities.
In addition, online programs are even more limiting because they do not allow teachers to see the student’s body language or hear their responses when they answer questions.
In most online courses, students can’t ask questions in real-time, limiting their ability to grasp concepts.
Finally, there is no doubt that you can learn something from in-person learning. However, some studies have shown that virtual education can also deliver courses, seminars, and workshops. Read more about virtual education and how it is a game-changer in education.
I hope you found this article helpful. Thanks for reading.
