The debate between online learning and classroom learning has never been louder. Some swear by the flexibility of online courses, while others argue that nothing beats in-person interaction. But if we strip away the surface-level conveniences and frustrations of each, we’re left with one key question: where does real learning actually happen?
Sam Tarell, CEO of Divergent-U, believes the answer lies in how we approach learning—not just where it happens.
“True learning occurs when ideas are shared and receive feedback.” – Sam Tarell
And that’s exactly where online learning often falls short.
The Rise of Online Learning: A Convenient, But Incomplete Solution
There’s no doubt that online education has revolutionized the way we access information. A student in Florida can take a business course taught by an Ivy League professor without ever leaving their home. Entrepreneurs can learn sales strategies from the world’s best minds while sitting in a coffee shop.
It’s efficient. It’s convenient. It makes knowledge accessible.
But here’s the problem: knowledge alone isn’t enough.
Watching a lecture, clicking through slides, or even completing assignments online doesn’t guarantee that someone truly understands the material. More importantly, it doesn’t challenge them to think critically, defend their ideas, or refine their perspectives.
That’s because most online learning is built for consumption—not discussion.
And without discussion, learning stays one-sided.
The Classroom: A Space for Real-Time Feedback
Divergent-U takes a different approach. Rather than treating a classroom like a stage for lectures, it’s designed as a space for discussion, feedback, and real-world application.
Instead of passively absorbing information, students are challenged to test their ideas, engage with peers, and refine their thinking in real time.
Think about it. Compare the to the energy of a great conversation face to face, a debate that forced you to see something from a new angle, a brainstorming session where an idea was reshaped into something better, a discussion where someone’s feedback helped you sharpen your vision to that of sitting in front of a computer screen.
That kind of interactive learning experience is what traditional classrooms were meant to be. But somewhere along the way, education turned into lectures and standardized tests.
Divergent U is flipping that model back to what actually works: collaborative, feedback-driven learning.
Can Online Learning Ever Replace the Classroom?
The reality is, it depends on what you want to achieve.
If your goal is simply to absorb information, online learning can do that. But if your goal is to apply that knowledge, build skills, and grow through real-world feedback, then the classroom, or at least a highly interactive, discussion-based environment, is where that transformation happens.
Sam Tarell and Divergent-U believe the future of education isn’t about choosing between online or in-person learning, it’s about redefining how learning happens altogether.
The best learning environments aren’t about passively receiving information. They’re about engaging with ideas, testing them in real conversations, and refining them through feedback.
And that’s something no video lecture can replicate.
The Future of Learning: What’s Next?
Education is changing. The real challenge isn’t where we learn, but how we ensure learning actually happens. With Google, Youtube and AI at our fingertips, consuming information is easy through a computer or phone screen.
But a well-designed classroom, on the other hand, fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration. A screen, no matter how interactive, can’t replicate the energy of a room full of people pushing each other to think bigger.
Maybe the question is: How do we bring back real learning and re-define the classroom?
Divergent-U has an answer. Learn more.
