In recent years and even more recently with the challenges posed by the Covid epidemic, there seems to be a growing interest in the role that online teaching can play in the field of education. This has pushed the educated elite to examine how online teaching can improve academic programs and provide students with more options. Likewise, it has also caused them to express some concerns about the convenience and effectiveness of online teaching and its contribution to the significant improvement of the education sector. The purpose of this essay is twofold, firstly to evaluate the effectiveness of online teaching and secondly to examine the extent to which online courses can replace traditional classroom teaching. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Today's students are much more computer and technology literate than any previous generation. Be it mundane activities that include gaming, communicating, learning, socializing, etc., they all require the use of a multitude of software applications. As a result, many learning institutions have also had to adapt their curricula to include and meet the needs of a generation that relies heavily on technology. There would appear to be a subtle shift away from exclusive textbook-based learning towards lively, interactive, relevant and engaging technology-assisted lessons. So, what factors contribute to the success and effectiveness of online teaching? Bailey, Schneider, and Vander outline several reasons why online teaching can be successful and effective and, among others, list the global reach of online teaching through breaking down academic and geographic barriers, choosing a teaching pace adequate and comfortable teaching environment, competency-based assessments, continuous content and technological developments and the reduced need for expensive physical infrastructure and learning spaces. Barbour also points out that online teaching helps to provide a wider variety of academic courses and that students benefit greatly from actively engaging in a learning environment that fosters the acquisition of a set of practical skills much needed in a of work. There are continuous developments when it comes to learning platforms and newer and improved versions often prove to be more suitable for teachers with particular advances in terms of assessment tools that help measure students' progress and skills. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Based on research conducted by the U.S. Department of Education and studies conducted by the National Training and Simulation Association, it has been found that technology-based instruction can reduce the time it takes students to achieve a goal of learning rate of 30-80% cited by the Federal Communications Commission. Several additional research projects also revealed that student performance in online-only courses was similar, if not better, than traditional in-person classes..