I use video in my online courses as much as possible to close the proverbial gap! Students complete about half of their discussions using video rather than typing. It helps create a sense of community which I feel to be the missing puzzle piece in a lot of these courses.

I strongly feel that learning outcome depends on the style that a learner prefres. I have also seen both types of learning and in many cases outcome of online was better than the classroom sessions particularly for the working students. However, still face to face teaching yields better learning outcome.

Theoretically, yes! If online interactive discussion boards have been really active and applied effectively among students and instructors (i.e., blackboard). Practically, online courses are not as adequate as face to face courses when hands on and practical skills needed to be applied and learned.

Hi Paul, you asked a very relevant question that will continue to be debated for some time. There is no easy answer about the quality of online and face to face education. There are many variables that affect academic performance on the part of the student and the course itself. I taught both face to face and for the last 22 years online courses. There are student characteristics that predict success (that needs to be defined as well). Key among them are the ability to work independently. I recently completed research on another variable that is often overlooked. Student emotions play a large part in academic success. Those who do well can view the online experience as having the same or better quality as face to face. Related to emotions is a student’s sense of community. Student emotions during online learning is partly related to a sense of community of learning. For example, what does it mean to create a community of students? A community is a group who relate to each other on any number of levels; attaining an education, relationships, common goals and tasks to reach these goals are some. Within each of these are what can seem to be infinite steps; some that are life-long. Students as a community, go to school in order to further comprehend, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information they acquire. This is facilitated by the community of faculty as well as available resources.

Students and Faculty are dependent on each other. However, a community of students means creating self-sufficiency, while at the same time having reliance on those who share similar interests and goals. One of the most pervasive might be the discussion forums within each courseroom. The fact that students cannot sit in the back of the courseroom helps create a sense of community. Asking what it means to create a community of students can be broad with many interpretations. A working community is an educational system where each person engages in the appropriate activities. Each part of the system is interdependent on all others. Students work towards increased independence and self-efficacy. I apologize for going off on a tangent, but it’s important to consider the many variables that make up quality education. Thank you, Paul for this discussion.

In terms of content overage, there is no difference between online and face-to-face learning. But there is a difference in the method of instruction. A well planned online learning gives opportunity to the learners to apply what they learned. This is made possible because of the variety of tools that can be used to blend the learning process. It is unfortunate that most online courses do not adequately use the tools.

In online mode it was found that there is greater engagement, time and cost saving, greater scope for learning, continuous assessment, convenience, affordability etc...

https://www.dexway.com/5-reasons-why-online-learning-is-more-effective/

It is a difficult question to answer because are many variables to observe to make a better comprehension of this point. In general, I think it is possible to learn in both format (face to face or online) with the same quality. It depends on the student. The best learning program is nothing if the student doesn't want to study. We have to consider some characteristics of people. I use to hear some people saying that prefer face to face courses because of interaction. On the other hand, some prefers to study alone.

An online course with 10 students should provide a superior learning engagement to a place-based course with 100 students, 60% of whom probably do not attend. However the very bad idea of MOOCS can only be inferior with several hundred students on-line with one instructor

My opinion is that the quality of face-to-face education depends on the professionalism of the teacher, and the quality of distance learning depends entirely on the motivation and personal qualities of the student.

For the ease of access and convenience yes online courses will have the opportunity and preference. But face to face learning has a feedback sheen of understanding and that is key to experiential learning

I'm against online courses! After receiving online answers I see the students don't read my lessons and answering only the first they found on internet. Only 10-20% of students work hard online!

I completely agree with Olha Shved . 80-90% of students who are unable to work independently do not make sense to teach remotely

I use video in my online courses as much as possible to close the proverbial gap! Students complete about half of their discussions using video rather than typing. It helps create a sense of community which I feel to be the missing puzzle piece in a lot of these courses.

The level of success we experience with our online scholars will be commensurate with the attitude of those scholars. That said using video as pointed out by Rachel Pfeifer can go a long way towards bridging the gap.

I teach various software programs and making the exercises as engaging as possible is extremely effective.

Some forms of in class instruction can be stressful for learners in that they are comparing themselves in a public setting.

I think a mix of booth will be best. I have no experience in teaching online. If I´m looking back on me, I studied both. I got 2 days a week in face-to-face and the other part online. I liked it, because I worked (30 h/week). I had exerted dicipline over me. I think its depended on students.

Generally speaking, I am certain the quality of learning is the same online and in the classroom when the coursework is properly done. I am also certain a person could find examples of poorly designed courses and of people who find ways to cheat the system. Yet, when properly done, I have found online classes to be just as demanding as courses in the classroom.

I speak to this topic from experience. All my degrees are from online schools. Yet, I also worked on an MEd, at Minot State University in North Dakota in the classroom. I have never felt second best or inferior because I earned my diplomas online.

Also, consider that almost every major university now offers classes or degree programs that can be done entirely online. These are not "fly by night" schools I am talking about, but schools like Purdue, Univ of Maryland, and others. The list is very long. These schools would not allow their names to be attached to inferior or useless degrees. Their seal on the diploma is proof they consider that diploma to be equal to those earned on campus. Therefore, I conclude online classes properly done, are as vigorous as on campus coursework.

Interesting topic and replies.

Quality is certainly a multidimentional topic or concept.

Both online and face to face courses have (or can have) a level of adequate quality.

Since they serve different conditions, quality will differ.

At the end of the day it has to do with what is learnt and how.....

I teach solely on-line and deliver to a large number of students that study around the world due to work commitments, the ability to study is important and aids the CPD of these students. The topic highlights a couple of crucial elements but essentially I do not see an inferior learning environment - only one that would be present if the tutor did not place the effort in.

Quality is crucial and the feedback loop means that you can be assured that you have the right product, this include internal and student feedback.

Student motivation is critical in the engagement and making sure they are aware of the commitment is essential in the engagement you get.

Finally, I would agree Rachel Pfeifer that the engagement using All forms of lessons, discussion and videos is the important element that is somethimes lost when first engaging in Distance Learning. You cannot just drop the same live delivery onto any platform and expect the same response - make it engaging and create the social forum - it is not easy but rewarding.

Good question and my first post hope it is worth while.

Best regards to all. In my experience (many years in university teaching), I consider that not all areas of knowledge are susceptible to virtual learning, several invariably require the presence, of the practical example of the teaching professional. Learning by modeling is irreplaceable, for example in areas of medicine, clinical psychology, to mention only two. Here, in my country I found, in my work in a state university dedicated to distance education that significant groups of students reproduced the same work, only changing some characters ...

Online learning is certainly the more effective option for students, but it's also better for the environment.The Open University in Britain have found that online courses equate to an average of 90% less energy and 85% fewer CO2 emissions per student than traditional in person courses.

on my point of view, teaching solely on-line would create gap between the urban and the rural students

The level of quality will not be the same. In some cases it will certainly be close, but that is determined by how much better a person focuses in person vs over a computer (video or not). In person, granted the teacher is engaging, is going to capture far better attention and with far less distractions.

But the world turns and keeps moving. We will all see more and more things moving to either online instruction, study at your pace, and certainly in my case .. visiting people at their homes or businesses and educating them there.

Clearly the online option allows one to reach a far wider audience. So there is that major advantage ... people gaining access because they can not afford to move or travel to learn something that is not available near them.

Well that is my 2 cents .... as cheap as it is.