A growing debate on college campuses across the country is whether online courses are easier or harder than traditional courses taken in classrooms. Even though an online course and a traditional one can be on the exact same subject, students claim that there is a stark difference in difficulty. The reality is that generally the material is the same. What is different is how you learn it, which can be harder or easier depending on the student.

The most obvious difference between the two is the absence of an instructor. In a traditional setting, someone is in front of you physically going through the material, while in an online course the material is there but you have to go through it on your own. Some may find it harder to absorb information by themselves. However, online programs let you get in touch with instructors for any needed clarification.

And what about the actual material? In class, students usually have to scribble down notes as the material is discussed, then have to decipher what exactly they wrote down when studying. Meanwhile, notes for online courses are posted on a website and are very easy to retrieve and consult.

With the absence of classmates, there is also a difference between how some students then study. Instead of having the opportunity to meet your peers, online learners have to typically review the material on their own. While some students prefer studying alone, others thrive by working with others and working out problems as a team.

Lastly, there is the issue of schedules. One advantage of online courses is they allow for more flexibility since there is usually not a set class time. With that flexibility students can accomplish other responsibilities and then have more time to dedicate to their studies. However, other students would rather have a rigid schedule that keeps distractions from incurring on their studies.

In the end, it all just depends on who you ask.