The decision to take an online class or a traditional class depends on the person deciding, what it is they expect to get from a class and the type of environment they need to be successful. If you are a student t hat needs constant instruction and the cracking of the whip from your professor an online class may not be for you. Online classes are more for the independent student who just needs to be given an outline of the course with the assignments and their due dates to be successful. The effectiveness of the online class will also depend highly upon the type of student that is considering taking an online class. If you prefer a one on one encounter with your teacher and your peers, you may feel isolated while taking an online class. This may cause you to become bored and in turn not give your all to your class. Or you may find yourself just doing the assignments for the sake of getting them done and getting a good grade and not retain any of the information. If you are a student that enjoys working alone, your experience with taking online classes may be a wondrous one. You may enjoy exploring the subject on your own with the guidance of your class outline and then reporting back your findings to your classmates and professor through the available discussions.
If one of your main reasons for wanting to take an online course is for convenience then you will most likely only succeed in an online class. This is because traditional classes at a university or community college require you to be there at the time they have set for the class and if you are not present on a continual basis your grade will be negatively affected. This can become a problem for a working professional or a single mom that has other responsibilities that may come up at unexpected times. Whereas with an online class, as long as you turn your assignments in on time, the time and place you complete your assignment is not a big issue.
The methods used in an online class and a traditional class may also have an effect on the student. If you are used to being shown the exact way of completing an assignment then a traditional class may be better for you in that the professor is there with a more hands on approach. However, in an online class you are left to explore your options and figure out the best way of meeting the qualifications of your professor.
Some students prefer only online classes while others prefer traditional classes and some will even say a mixture of both works just fine for them. Whichever you choose you want to be sure you are able to receive the benefit of learning from your choice.