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『•• Comparative Essay - Online vs Physical School ••』

COVID-19's onset has contributed to a paradigm shift in many aspects of live, with an indelible impact on the education sector. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals have limited their exposure to the external world in fear of contracting the ailment and a plethora of services that were once limited to in-person contact sessions have shifted to a remote, online approach, with education being one of these affected sectors. According to recent studies conducted by Forbes, over 75 percent of students believe online instruction is equal or superior to in-person instruction and over 70 percent of chief academic officers believe that online learning will become a long-term learning strategy, though online schooling is more costly to maintain as they utilize learning management systems (LMS) and require moderation from the instructor to prevent any unnecessary content being uploaded to the space. Online classes offer more flexibility than the orthodox method as they facilitate students who may be employed in full-time positions, or reside in various countries to enroll in an institution. However, this may not be the most advantageous option for all learners as the pandemic has caused a strain of available resources and less disposable income as most individuals would have to incur other costs like flight costs. The similarities and differences between traditional and online schooling are the influx of assignments, issuing and receiving feedback from instructors and peers, the teacher's ability to evaluate their class's grasp of key concepts and terms, the amount of effort required by a student to ensure all assignments are completed to the highest possible standard.

Both environments possess a significant influx of assignments which demands more concerted effort by the student to ensure that all are completed, giving heed to the set due dates and expectations and standards of the instructor. Issuing and receiving feedback from instructors and peers is of paramount importance in both the physical and online spaces, as they can aid an individual in being cognizant of their weaknesses and striving to improve on these. Another trait common amongst both physical and online schooling is that both provide mind-stimulating, interactive and engaging sessions for the student yield the student producing an elevated quality of work for a particular subject area, due to their zeal and impetus.

However, the traditional learning approach is more effective for the teacher to witness what his or her students are actually comprehending and aids them in better catering for their student's needs. Giving instruction in the physical modality can additionally provide the student with the opportunity of building an excellent rapport with his or her subject teachers. The traditional environment is most favorable to those who raise their hands first and speak the loudest, as these types of students tend to capture the teacher's attention the most whereas in the online setting, all students stand on a level footing. The online environment requires more self-direction and discipline, so students should remain assiduous to have all coursework assignments submitted in a timely manner, which represent traits a student has to cultivate in his or herself to flourish in both the traditional and online classroom environments.

Today's digital era has facilitated the transition from in-person contact sessions, to remote, contactless sessions and has allowed us to complete actions such as paying bills or purchasing items from our fingertips, and engage in online classes whose usage spiked due to the COVID-19 pandemic in efforts made by individuals to minimize in-person contact for the purpose of lowering the risk of contracting the ailment. Online schooling offers more flexibility to students, saves them incurring travel costs allowing allows them to be enrolled in an academic institution internationally or while occupying a full-time position, differing it from the traditional classroom, which identifies students and teachers at in-person contact sessions and allows the teacher to better examine his or her students grasp of key concepts and terms and employ teaching strategies better geared towards their learning style.