Distance Learning Programs
There are many types of distance learning courses, teaching a myriad of subjects and qualifications, and many universities, colleges and other organisations, both public and private, offering them. The first subject taught by correspondence was Pitman Shorthand, and the largest distance education organisaton is the United Kingdom's Open University which was founded in 1969.
Although we're mainly interested in online education on this website, most distance learning involves a combination of media. Courses can be
- Online via the internet: conducted either synchronously (in real time) or asynchronously (where the teacher and the student each make their contributions in their own time)
- Telecourse/Broadcast: course content is delivered via radio or television
- CD-ROM: the student interacts with computer content stored on a CD-ROM
- Correspondence courses conducted through the ordinary mail service
Although some colleges and other organisatons still send printed information, CD-ROMs, videos and audiotapes through the mail as part of their courses, most of the major distance education players today use the web, e-mail and in some cases video conferencing over broadband connections or intranets.
Actually, going to school via the radio has long been a fact of life in Australia for students in far-flung stations, although the advent of the internet has proved a welcome revolution for many! Radio and television programming was originally the basis of the UK's Open University and continues to play an important role in its courses.
However, in most countries, especially in the developed nations, although distance education may be offered at all levels it is most frequently utilised for university-level (tertiary) studies. You can study full time, but most students choose part-time study. It's also possible to do research studies, with Phds popular.
Advantages of Distance Learning
In the USA over 4 million students are enrolled in online schools and universities (and that total is growing 30% per year), and over 75% of US colleges and universities offer online degree programs. There are definite advantages in studying for your degree or other qualification online:
- Students can "attend" a course at anytime, from anywhere. They don't have to physically attend a traditional class and so save time and money in travelling. A mother can care for her children and still study; if you work, you can study when you get home; if you travel, all you need is internet access anywhere in the world and you can be "in the classroom".
- Assignments and class participation are conducted "asynchronously," meaning that the students can choose when to study according to their individual schedules (and this goes for teachers as well).
- Course material is accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week. So you can go back and re-read that lecture, or check explanations and comments. or go over that online discussion which you didn't quite understand the first time round.
- Distance means nothing online, so if you live in an area a long way away from universities, libraries and other necessary educational facilities, you can still access the materials and teachers you need - and they can be some of the best in the world in their subject. Your teachers can come from anywhere in the world - they can be as widely dispersed as their students!
So whether you're looking for a bachelor's degree, a masters, phd, MBA or some other professional qualification, distance learning may be the answer you're looking for. There's an increasing number of programs and courses now available, and if you can't get a visa to study in the USA or another country, why not take the course from your own?
Accessibility, flexibility, quality: all good reasons to consider educating yourself online via distance learning as a viable alternative.
Online Education News
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- Leading Business Intelligence on the Middle East & North Africa
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