The Pros And Cons Of Class Learning Vs One-On-One

Each student has their own style of learning. There are four main types of learning: auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and reading/writing. What this means is that every child who is learning a new subject will retain the information better in different ways. While traditional in-class learning provides typically only one or a combination of the styles of learning, one-on-one style learning is often regarded as more effective.

That being said, both classroom and one-on-one learning have their own pros and cons. When it comes to learning, there is no one-size-fits-all option, and the best approach is personalized to the student. But what exactly are the differences between in class and one-to-one learning and which one is better?

Let’s go through the pros and cons of class learning vs one-on-one.

What are the pros of in-class learning?
Class learning is done in a traditional classroom setting. The size of the class can range significantly so that more students can gain access to subject matter at the same time. Giving lessons in this manner is the traditional style of schooling and has been in use for as long as many can remember.

There are several pros to this style of learning, such as:

• Human interaction: In-class learning provides students with the ability to connect with their peers and educator face-to-face. Because of this, the subject matter can be more easily brought to life, so to speak. It also allows students to gain different perspectives from their peers and learn subject matter from more than just one angle. Being able to share the schooling experience with other learners can be invaluable.
• Feedback: Although teachers in classroom settings cannot give personal feedback at all times, when a student is having a difficult time grasping a certain portion of the material, they can raise their hand and ask for immediate assistance. This helps learners get the feedback they need to continue learning with their peers.
• Limited distractions: School classrooms are set up to be distraction-free zones. They provide students with the structure they need to learn in a stable and reliable environment.
• Team building: In-classroom learning can often involve students working as a group toward a common goal. While this type of learning can be helpful for students in terms of the subject matter, it can also help children learn other valuable life skills such as working with others and communication.
• Social building: Social development is crucial for children, and when they are learning in a classroom environment, they are also developing vital social skills that they will take with them throughout their lives. 
• Enhances critical thinking: Often, in-class learning requires students to participate in group discussions. This teaches them to think on the spot and furthers their ability to think critically.

What are the disadvantages of classroom learning?

While there are some distinct advantages to learning in a classroom setting, there are some things that may not be so great. For example:

• Pace of learning: Each student learns at a different pace, and that can be a hard thing to accommodate in a classroom environment. Some students may learn faster, which leaves them ahead of the rest of the group. This can lead to boredom and lower engagement during lessons. On the other hand, students who learn at a slower pace may be left behind as the class moves on to other course material.
• Lack of personalization: As mentioned above, students have different styles of learning. In-class teachers can somewhat cater to these varied styles; however, they cannot always teach course material in the way that a few select students will understand it best. This can often lead to some students having difficulty grasping the subject matter, not because of their own incapability, but because their style of learning isn’t being accommodated.
• Lack of attention: While a teacher is in the classroom at all times attending to students’ needs, they cannot help one person for the duration of the entire class. This may make it hard for students who have fallen behind or are having difficulties get the personalized attention they need.
• Distractions: While a lack of distraction is listed in the pros section, for some students, distractions still happen! Being surrounded by their peers may make them more interested in the social aspect of the classroom environment as opposed to the subject matter.

What is the purpose of one-to-one learning?
One-to-one learning is a method of teaching that involves one student learning from one teacher. Many think of one-on-one learning as a type of tutor situation. It is designed to help a student through personalized approaches and full attention. It helps students to learn at their own pace and in the style that suits them best.

The pros of one-to-one learning include:

• High-quality and personalized interaction: Being taught in a one-on-one situation gives a student the ability to be open about their grasp on the subject matter. In turn, this gives the educator the opportunity to understand the student and cater lessons to help them where they lack. The conversations are often student-driven so that they learn as best they can.
• A better grasp on progress: An educator in a one-to-one learning arrangement is better able to gauge how well the student is doing. Their focus is on one person, and because of that, they can see just where in the material the student is succeeding and where they might need extra help.
• The complete elimination of distractions: While in-class learning can be either help or hurt a child’s focus, one-to-one learning eliminates any chance of distractions altogether. This helps the student stay focused on the task at hand. 

Do students learn better one-on-one?

Students learn in various ways, but one thing is clear: one-on-one learning benefits all students equally and is typically associated with a faster grasp of material and a better learning experience. This is essentially because the single student is the only one that the teacher needs to worry about, and so the lessons and the learning style they are taught in can be tailored to the individual student.

In some cases of one-to-one learning, however, students may become exhausted from the constant interaction and attention from a teacher, especially if they are used to traditional in-class learning. It can also lead to difficulties determining if a student is where they need to be based on their peers because they do not have any peers to compare to.

While in-class and one-to-one learning both have pros and cons, the best style is the one that works best for your child. Knowing their learning style and what works best for them will be the greatest thing you can do to help them achieve academic success.

 

Featured image by Adam Winger on Unsplash