The Face-to-face studies Are those dictated in a closed room, usually a formal educational institution, by a teacher or facilitator who imparts their knowledge to a student who must attend classes regularly, at times and pre-established days, to receive, process and incorporate The knowledge imparted.
It is the traditional mode of study and the most common in the educational system, both public and private in most countries.
Until the beginning of the last century, education was a privilege reserved for a few. During the twentieth century education underwent major democratization and many states assumed education as an inalienable and free right for their citizens.
However, reality shows that a good part of the population does not have access to education or have very limited access.
This is due not only to the economic aspect, which is one of the main impediments, but to other types of disadvantages such as the physical distance between homes and schools or universities, or the difficulty to work and earn money while studying.
In rural or suburban areas the daily transfer to school is complicated, often the distances are very long, the roads are not in conditions or the weather conditions are adverse.
In other cases, the workforce of all family members is required to survive, and children are unable to complete their formal education because they need to work and earn money to contribute to the household.
With the emergence of Internet And the development of new technologies, it has been possible to bring education closer to anyone who wants without the need or obligation to attend an educational area every day. It is the so-called virtual, distance or non-face-to-face education.
In addition to being an alternative for children and young people, this new form of education has also made it possible to bring adults closer to the educational environment, for example, housewives, retirees, people with disabilities, etc. Type of training that qualifies your job or that extends your job opportunities and progress.
While these two types of studies have their advocates and their detractors, both types of studies - classroom and virtual - have their advantages and disadvantages.
Not everything has to be studied in person, but there are also subjects and careers that are almost impossible to study at a distance.
It is unthinkable, for example, for a doctor to learn to operate a patient by watching tutorials online, but it is perfectly possible for a person to study mathematics or philosophy online.
Advantages of face-to-face studies
1- Being in a closed room, it is assumed that the student can concentrate better and devote himself especially to learning without distractions.
2- It establishes a more serious commitment to the fact of studying and learning, since it dedicates a lot of time and effort that somehow has to bear fruit.
3- There is a start time and a pre-established and almost always inflexible end time, allowing you to program and have a clear idea of how long it will take to complete the different stages of the course.
4- By sharing with other students, socialization and integration are promoted, as well as being able to raise and resolve team doubts.
5- It facilitates the understanding of what is studied thanks to the permanent presence of a tutor or teacher who is there to explain and assist the students.
6 - Being addressed to groups more or less homogeneous, it is assumed that all share a similar previous baggage and that all may advance in a more or less similar.
Disadvantages of face-to-face studies
Man studying at home
1- What can be an advantage, can also be a disadvantage. Being indoors with many peers your age can cause distraction and loss of concentration in class.
2- The learning is limited to the dictated by the teacher. Their opinions are accepted as the only ones and do not pose many spaces for dissent, doubt or confrontation of ideas.
3 - The teacher does not have the possibility to give special attention to each of the students, being that not everyone can learn at the same pace, some will be relegated, delayed or without the information or the complete learning.
4- By having a start date and a predefined and inflexible end date, this means that in the event of personal occurrences (illness, climatic conditions, economic problems, etc.) there is a risk of missing important test dates or losing the Course or year, and having to wait until another opens.
5- Generally the face-to-face studies indirectly affect other expenses such as transportation, food and clothing that must be added to the actual educational expenditure (books, tuition, etc.) and which the student is not always in a position to face.
Face-to-face vs. Virtual Studies
More time and money is invested - Saves time and money
Require fixed study days and schedules - Allow flexibility of schedules and days
Class is dictated no matter what you are - Class is taken when you are really ready
Directed to people from nearby communities - There are no geographical limits
Directed to a homogeneous public - Directed to a homogeneous or heterogeneous public
No Internet connection required - Internet connection required and an electronic device required
The enclosure facilitates concentration - There are more distractions, costs more concentration
The teacher controls the dynamics of the class - The teacher has no control over what is taught
Allow real and instant interaction - Interaction is less dynamic and less effective
Facilitate socialization - Difficult socialization, promote individual initiative
Evaluations tend to be stricter - Evaluations are more relaxed
They are still more reputed - They have low reputation as to the quality of the final result
Simpler and handcrafted planning - Require more planning and design
Face-to-face communication - Virtual communication, where there may or may not be real interaction
Poor presence of technical or administrative staff - This type of personnel is essential
Require a physical infrastructure and maintenance - Do not require a physical infrastructure
Its production is more costly - Its production is easy, fast and economic
The teacher is the basic source of information - The teacher suggests the sources of information
The teacher sets the pace of progress of the class - The student defines his own rhythm
The student is passive receiver of information - The student is an active part in the investigation
References
- Differences between face-to-face education and distance education. University administrative center of economic sciences. University of Guadalajara, Jalisco 2012. Retrieved from cucea.udg.mx
- Study modalities: face-to-face, blended, distance or online. Recovered from prodedim.com