There are a number of learning options available to students which are briefly discussed below.
Delivery type/Study Option | Description | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Face-to-face delivery
| The traditional classroom or face-to-face instruction is when the instructor and the students of an educational institution are in a place devoted to instruction and the teaching and learning take place at the same time. | *You can ask questions *You can discuss issues with fellow students *There is ample opportunity for social interaction and support *You have access to on-campus student facilities | *If you cannot keep up with the rest of the class, you will have to schedule extra classes, which could cost you extra money *Due to time constraints in class, the lecturer cannot answer each and every student's questions *You will have to carry your textbooks to class every day |
Distance/Correspondence
| Distance learning is a method of studying in which lectures are broadcast or lessons are conducted by correspondence, without the student needing to attend a school or college. | *You can usually set your own pace of study *It is your decision as to when and where you study *It doesn't matter where you live – you can gain a qualification from anywhere in the world *As with a full-time qualification, students may find that they gain useful, transferable skills, such as planning and research *A distance learning course often costs less than a full-time programme | *Distance learning requires self-motivation *Distance learning does not give you direct access to your instructor *Distance learning is isolated *Distance learning requires you to have constant, reliable access to technology *Distance learning does not offer immediate feedback *Distance learning does not always offer all the necessary courses online *Distance learning may not be acknowledged by a specific employer *There might be hidden costs *Distance learning does not give students the opportunity to work on oral communication skill |
Online/e-learning
| Online learning is education that takes place over the Internet. It is often referred to as “e- learning” among other terms. However, online learning is just one type of “distance learning” - the umbrella term for any learning that takes place across distance and not in a traditional classroom. | *No need to travel, saving both time and money *Whenever and wherever you like: early morning, while commuting or eating, during work breaks or in the evening. At home, in coffee shops, or on the train. Take a break anytime to give your mind a short rest. *Online learning usually includes pre-recorded videos *No need to buy textbooks although some have optional texts *You can speed up videos during easy parts, and slow them down to understand more difficult concepts. You can pause videos while writing notes or re-watch them as often as necessary. Many courses also provide transcripts for their videos. If an interactive transcript is provided, you can click on a relevant section of the transcript to watch that part of the video. If videos or transcripts can be downloaded to your device you will then have unlimited access to them. *In courses with dynamic discussion forums you can discuss issues with fellow students from all around the world. | *Lack of accreditation and low quality *Little or no face-to-face interaction *More work *Intense requirement for self-discipline *Even more intense requirement for self-direction |
Blended
| Blended learning is an approach to education that combines online educational materials and opportunities for interaction online with traditional place-based classroom methods. It requires the physical presence of both teacher and student, with some elements of student control over time, place, path, or pace. | *Round-the-clock access to training resources *A personalised training experience *Better communication and collaborative learning *Track participants’ skill and performance development *Cost-effective training strategy | *The technology challenge - Infrastructure *The technology challenge – Mentality *Pace of advancement *Negative impact on teachers - Overwork *Negative impact on students - Cognitive load *The plagiarism and credibility problem |
Self-study
| Self-studying, which involves studying without direct supervision or attendance in a classroom, is a valuable way to learn, and is quickly growing in popularity among parents and students. | *Choose your own pace, materials, methods; everything is up to you *Less stressed about failing in front of another person *You don’t pay the teacher *Its neither location constrained or time-bound *Can take place from the comfort of anywhere *Cheap or free *You set the pace *You can do it at any time | *No self-discipline *No face-to-face interaction *Lack of flexibility *Lack of input from trainers *Slow evolution *Good e-learning is difficult to do *Lack of transformational power *No peripheral benefits |