Table 1.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online and Live Modes of Education^1,6

Online Education		Live Education
Advantages	Disadvantages	Advantages	Disadvantages
Lessons can be updated quickly and easily Content can be cross-referenced and hyperlinked Video and audio can be incorporated seamlessly into content Large numbers of people across wide geographic areas can have access to courses Offers flexibility for students to study at their own pace Facilitates assessment and evaluation of students’ participation and progress	High financial cost associated with programming development Technical expertise required for website maintenance Students must have Internet service connection Student use may be inhibited by website design and/or navigation	Instructor can spontaneously tailor lessons to individual students’ weaknesses or needs Students can pose questions directly to instructors and get answers immediately Instructor’s enthusiasm for a subject is more easily communicated to students Social teamwork scenarios can be facilitated in a classroom situation	High financial cost for instructor to travel to presentations Audience size for a given presentation is limited by size of room available Requires availability of students at time of presentation Distractions in the classroom can divert focus away from the lesson Skill and teaching efficacy may vary from one instructor to another