e-Learning versus Traditional Learning in Pakistan

Abstract

The advance of science and technology has brought about significant diversity in education as well as in teaching methodology. Emerging technologies have made education more productive and more customized, have given instruction a more scientific basis and have made it more powerful. E-learning involves an alternative way to provide education. The objectives of the study were to examine the use of e-learning and traditional learning in Pakistan at the higher education level and to compare the effectiveness of e-learning and traditional learning with the use of surveys. A small sample group of Bachelor of Computer Science and Master of Computer Science of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) were selected as the traditional group and the same number of distance students of the same subjects attending Virtual University of Pakistan were selected for the study. A questionnaire was developed for both target groups to inquire their opinions of traditional and online learning. The tool was administered in person on the AIOU campus and at the Virtual University Study Centre at Wah Cantt. It was found that e-learning was more effective than the traditional one.