California Distance Learning

There’s no question that distance learning is transforming the way Americans are earning certifications and degrees to help them further themselves in their careers. Distance learning offers a number of options, but what they all share is that for the most part, the learner works independently. Distance learning courses do have instructors, but in many cases the student and teacher never meet face to face. That doesn’t mean help isn’t available to Californian distance learners, nor does it mean that courses aren’t well designed and carefully monitored.

Learning virtually does require a certain type of personality. Successful participants in distance learning courses offered by Californian institutions are highly motivated, curious, and confident learners with good time management skills. Part of their motivation comes from their recognition that it’s impossible to get ahead professionally without training and the evidence of that training. In most cases, that means participating in an accredited program that results in a certificate, diploma, or degree of some sort.

Distance learning has actually been around for a long time. In the 1800s and into the next century it was called correspondence courses. With the technological explosions of the latter third of the last century, specifically personal computers, video, and the internet, distance learning took on a whole new methodology, and it has changed thousands of lives. People who are already entrenched in the workforce and cannot walk away from a steady income for a year to several years in order to earn a degree that will ultimately allow them to get ahead, may learn at their own pace. Parents of young kids who aren’t willing to sacrifice family time to spend hours a week in order to attend a class may now take that class when they choose, after the kids are in bed or on weekends.

The unique needs of California’s diverse populations have put the state at the forefront of alternative education programs. Many California residents do not speak English as a first language. Offering non-classroom-specific methods of educational delivery gives speakers who may not be fluent the opportunity to study a lesson at their own pace, returning to lectures delivered via documents, videos, audio lessons, or in other ways to review what they understand and move further into the material. California is the only state that recognizes online law schools as a valid alternative and will permit graduates to sit for the California board exam, even though they did not graduate from a law school or program approved by the American Bar Association, as is required by all other states.

The term “distance learning” actually refers to a number of possible approaches. Most often, it involves students who teach themselves using materials obtained online that have been posted by their teachers. Most schools use dedicated software to facilitate delivery of the diverse media the instructor might choose, including e-books and other print materials, streaming video, photographs, audio presentations, chats, discussion boards, online quizzes and tests, and drop boxes where students deposit papers that can be checked digitally for signs of plagiarism. Instructors are generally very available, either through a real-time chat or webinar, or via email. In many ways, distance learning operates in ways similar to traditional learning. Assignments are given and must be fulfilled, and later lessons build upon earlier ones. Some instructors assign deadlines for individual projects, others simply provide all the course materials and allow students to work at their own pace.

Hybrid classes are another type of distance learning option in which students combine independent work with participation in a certain number of on-campus classes, seminars, or events. Some teachers meet students once at the beginning of the class, at midterm to give exams, and at the course’s conclusion when finals are given. Others meet with students every other week, or even once a week, with the remaining student obligations to be fulfilled independently.

The California Distance Learning Project, developed by the Sacramento County Office of Education, offers support to the distance learning community in the form of written stories, videos, and audio lessons that learners may use to enhance their studies. The project permits schools to apply a portion of their annual block grant to distance learning programs, as long as they have been evaluated and approved, and works with learners at high school through college levels.

The California Virtual Campus is a clearinghouse and source for distance learning instructors and their students. It is the first stop for any Californian interested in attending college without leaving home. Their website provides up-to-date information about all of California’s distance learning options offered by colleges and universities. One of their many services is providing potential students with information and support regarding federal and state funding, including loans, grants, and scholarships. This is a real help, because government educational monies are only offered to schools that have been legitimately accredited. Accreditation is given regionally or nationally, depending upon the type of school or program, and it is voluntary. Accrediting agencies or boards take an in-depth look at a school’s methods of instruction, materials, and other contributing factors to determine whether the quality of education it offers meets a predetermined standard of excellence. The process is ongoing; schools are not accredited once and for all time.

Unfortunately, with the explosion of online learning, some virtual schools have popped up that are subpar. These schools may point to accreditation on their websites, but the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation only recognize certain agencies that can prove their legitimate and thorough efforts. All the schools and programs listed on the California Virtual Campus website have the accreditation necessary not only for financial aid, but to ensure students that the quality of education they are getting is as good as that in a brick-and-mortar school.

Distance Learning Center | TestPrepReview.com