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Non-traditional education tends to get ignored or disregarded in
American society. The assumption is that traditional education is just
better. But is that the case? Here are twelve reasons why traditional
education is NOT the best choice:
1. Traditional education
awards degrees on the basis of time served and credit earned, while
non-traditional education awards degrees on the basis of competencies
and performance skills.
2. Traditional education bases degree
requirements on the medieval formula of some generalized education and
some specialized education, but non-traditional education bases degree
requirements on an agreement between the student and the faculty, aimed
at helping the student achieve his or her career, personal, or
professional goals.
3. Traditional education awards the degree
when the student meets certain numerical requirements, but
non-traditional education awards the degree when the student's actual
work and learning reach agreed-upon levels.
4. Non-traditional
education assumes learning desirable at any age, and that degrees
should be available to people of all ages, but traditional education in
secular and Christian colleges considers the years from age 18 to 22 as
the period when a first degree should be earned.
5.
Non-traditional education sees any part of the world as appropriate for
some learning, while traditional education, even Christian education,
considers the classroom as the primary source of information and the
campus as the center of learning.
6. Traditional education
believes in printed text materials as the principal learning resource,
while non-traditional education believes the range of learning
resources is limitless, from the daily newspaper to personal
interviews; from videocassettes to microcomputers to world travel.
7.
Non-traditional education faculty are judged on competency and personal
qualities, in addition to credentials and degrees (take note: a
non-traditional faculty must still be academically qualified), but
traditional education faculty must only have appropriate credentials
and degrees.
8. Traditional education cultivates dependence on
authority through prescribed curricula, required campus residence, and
required classes, while non-traditional education cultivates
self-direction and independence through planned independent study, both
on and off campus.
9. Non-traditional education credits and
degrees also take into consideration learning how to learn and the
integration of diverse fields of knowledge, while traditional education
credits and degrees are based primarily on mastery of course content.
10.
Traditional education curricula are generally oriented toward
traditional disciplines and well-established professions, while
non-traditional education Curricula reflect the student's individual
needs and goals and are likely to be problem-oriented, issue-oriented,
and world-oriented.
11. Non-traditional education aims at
producing lifelong learners, capable of responding all through their
lives to their own evolving needs and those of society, while
traditional education aims at producing "finished products" – students
who are done with their education and ready for the job market.
12.
Lastly, to adapt the old Chinese saying, traditional education gives
you a fish and feeds you for a day, while non-traditional education
teaches you how to fish, and feeds you for life.
Mark Virkler is with Christian Leadership University. CLU is an Online Bible College offering Christian Education
which includes listening to God's voice and offers certificates,
undergrad, Masters, and Doctorates in the various Christian colleges of
CLU.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
