Distance Learning Center @ TestPrepReview.com

Long distance learning makes it possible for a student to take courses offered outside of his or her city of residence. Before long distance learning, people had to either go to school in their hometown or move to their college of choice requiring them to pay for either on or off campus housing. The ability to study abroad or overseas was only possible for those who could afford to live in another country for as long as their education lasted. With long distance learning, people can take classes and earn their degree from any university offering distance education courses. Many colleges overseas can be accessed through long distance learning so students can earn a degree from another country through the internet. State universities and community colleges charge a higher out of state tuition for those students who attend their university but are residents of another state. Through private universities long distance learning programs, out of state tuition rates do not apply.

Long distance learning can be used to earn a degree, gain knowledge on a subject, or prepare for a college class. Carnegie Mellon University offers long distance learning degrees through the internet, CD-Rom and email. Some companies, like General Motors have partnered with Carnegie Mellon to create degree programs designed specifically for their employees. The General Motors partnership resulted in a masters program designed specifically for the information technology department and the coursework can be complete completely through long distance learning. For students who want to prepare to take a college level course, Carnegie Mellon created the Open Learning Initiative project. Students can take courses via the internet that are not for college credit but are designed to prepare students for courses such as Statistics, Logic, and Economics. These courses can be accessed by people who just want to learn more about these subjects or want to eventually take the courses for credit. Carnegie Mellon is just one example of a university where one can earn a degree without ever going to the on ground campus.

Distance learning programs begin at the elementary and secondary levels of education. According to a 2005 study by the U.S. Department of Education, 38% of high schools currently offer distance learning courses as an option for students. Distance learning programs at the pre-college level are especially helpful for people in rural areas. Some of the smaller districts that service rural communities do not have access to a large and diverse number of courses. A U.S. Department of Education study revealed that two-way interactive video is the most common source of technology used in high school level distance education programs. Many schools want to expand their distance learning programs but the cost of technology is a factor for most districts so many can not afford to expand.

Distance learning programs at the postsecondary or college level are increasingly popular. The U.S. Department of Education recorded that over half of postsecondary colleges offered distance learning courses in 2001. The popularity of distance learning programs is attributed mainly to the number of working adults who want to either begin or continue their education. Distance learning programs provide flexibility for working adults to complete coursework in the evenings or on the weekends. Postsecondary distance learning programs give students the opportunity to earn a degree from outside of their state or country of origin which has been made possible by online distance learning programs.

A distance learning program is an educational program that is delivered either partially or totally away from the college campus. The method of delivery of the coursework varies among distance learning programs. A distance learning program that is print based means that the student purchases a book, receives a syllabus, completes assignments, and submits the assignments through the mail or fax. An online distance learning program involves communication through the internet. Most colleges have a distance learning website where courses can be accessed and a virtual classroom is present. Assignments can be submitted through the websites and quizzes and tests can be accessed. A distance learning program that is videocassette or television based requires the student to either watch lectures or movies on a video that the college disperses or on a channel where the college broadcasts educational programs. A hybrid distance learning program mixes distance education with some face-to-face contact with a professor. The student may be required to go to campus several times throughout the semester to attend lectures, test reviews, or labs. Some courses require conference calls to communicate with the professor and other students. The distance learning program can require testing to be completed at the university campus with a facilitator.

A hybrid distance learning program has some advantages to a strictly online program. Although the student will have to travel to the university on one or more occasions, interaction with a professor can be helpful. Some coursework is easier to understand with a teacher explaining the material or walking the student through it. A student of a distance learning program can often feel disconnected from the college experience and attending the university throughout the semester can help alleviate that feeling. Many times the instructor will tell students what to expect on exams or have on campus review sessions which can be extremely helpful. Connecting with other students in a hybrid distance learning program can lead to the opportunity for discussions with classmates or the creation of peer study groups.

A distance learning college will provide students with an opportunity to complete some or all of their coursework outside of a traditional classroom environment. Some universities offer both distance education and traditional education programs, while some are strictly online universities. One popular distance learning college, the University of Phoenix, offers degrees that can be earned completely online, but the university also has campuses where students can physically attend class. The benefit of a distance learning college like University of Phoenix is that a degree can be earned more rapidly than with traditional college. Students attend year round and can take two classes online concurrently, or take one class online and one on campus. A requirement to attending University of Phoenix is the student has to be employed full-time because much of the coursework relies on the student sharing real work experiences. The professor’s are required to work in the field they are teaching. Because a distance learning college like the University of Phoenix offers a virtual classroom environment, students who have busy lives can still earn a degree.

There are some drawbacks to attending a distance learning college. Many are private universities, so one should always check that the school has been accredited through the U.S. Department of Education. If the distance learning college is private, it can charge 3-4 times more for tuition than a public university. One must weigh the benefit of the flexibility of an online environment against the cost of tuition. Financial aid can be used at an accredited distance learning college to help pay for tuition. Another source of financial assistance can be a company’s employee tuition assistance program. A degree from a distance learning college may not be as widely accepted by employers as one from a traditional university, especially if the degree program is not accredited. To help alleviate this problem, one should look for an accredited distance learning college with a recognizable name such as Michigan State or Rice University that offers distance learning programs.

Most distance learning certificate programs are designed for working professionals who want to advance in their career field but are in need of more training or specialization in a specific area of their profession. Many careers require the employees to continue their education after employment. Some of these career fields include social work, engineering and teaching. Many of these continuing education credits will advance the employee towards a distance learning certificate in his or her field. For example, an information technology network administrator may be required by his or her company to continue his or her education because the field of technology is constantly changing. Because the employee is working full-time, he or she may choose a program that will result in a distance learning certificate like an MCSE, or Microsoft Certification. A speech pathologist can take a course called Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation and receive certification in this specialized area.  Upon completion, the employee has fulfilled the company’s requirement for continuing education and has a professional certificate. A distance learning certificate is not an advance degree, but a certification that the person has received specialized study in a particular area. A distance learning certificate provides the flexibility to train online, which makes it a convenient option for working professionals.

As with any online educational program, one should ensure the distance learning certificate program is accredited, especially if the potential user needs the credits to fulfill a professional requirement. Most companies require their employees to earn Continuing Education Credits, which are formal credits that are professionally recognized. The International Association for Continuing Education Training (IACET) is the industry accepted nonprofit organization that certifies educational institutions offering Continuing Education Credits. Many educational providers will offer Continuing Education Credits, but one should make sure the college he or she chooses offers Continuing Education Credits that have been approved by the IACET. Otherwise, the credits may be invalid. The IACET accepts applications from educational programs, including distance learning certificate programs, then does extensive research before approving the institution. Through the IACET, one can find a list of organizations that acknowledge the Continuing Education Credits earned by an IACET approved educational institution. One can also find educational providers that have been approved and are authorized to provide classes by the IACET. When considering where to earn a distance learning certificate, the list of IACET approved sources is an excellent resource.

A distance learning center is an online website that colleges or other educational sources provide through their distance learning websites. The center is an informational source for all items considered under the umbrella of distance education. The distance learning center provides access to course schedules and allows the student to register online. Before registering the student can read about distance learning and can take a quiz that determines the student’s compatibility with an online or distance learning environment. There are links to online academic counseling, which provide academic counselors contact information for students to either email or call. Many distance learning centers provide a list of commonly asked questions and answers as another information source. Once registered, the online distance learning center provides access for the student to go through an orientation showing step-by-step instructions demonstrating how to take classes online. This is an excellent source for those who are new at attending distance education. The link provides information on what computer software the student will need and provides site navigation instructions. Class syllabi can be found on the distance learning center website so the student can see the instructor’s expectations immediately when class begins. After class begins, the courses the student is enrolled in can be accessed through the universities distance learning center.

Many campuses have an on campus distance learning center. These classrooms are designed for students who are attending distance learning classes through videoconferencing or other video service technology. The distance learning center provides computer access and DVD or VCR access, so if the student does not have the required technology at home, he or she can still make good use of  the distance learning forum but through at the college.

A university with an accredited distance learning program will be approved by the U.S. Department of Education or the same type of federal agency in a foreign country. To become accredited, representatives from various educational programs come together and evaluate the university in question on the basis on many factors including the value of the curriculum, the resources the program has access to, and the caliber of the educational program as a whole. Once the federal government approves the results of the accreditation group, the university’s accredited distance learning program will appear on list of National and Regional Accredited Agencies and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation list.

Many universities will claim to have an accredited distance learning program and list agencies they are accredited by, but the potential student should verify that the accreditation of the university is valid. Many colleges make claims of earning a degree in a year from home. Upon contacting the university, the potential student may find that he or she can earn a degree by paying an inflated tuition amount, but with little coursework involved. The university may be in the business of making money and handing out as many diplomas as possible, disregarding a quality education. The negative result of not checking the accreditation lists to ensure one is attending an accredited distance learning program  prior to beginning is that after the student has spent his or her time and money, the actual degree may be worthless when entering the job market.

Even with a degree from an accredited distance learning program, employers and higher educational institutions have some difficulty recognizing the education or certification as being as valuable as a traditional degree because distance learning is a new form of education. With this uncertainty, the student would be wise to make sure the university he or she is attending is valid and accredited so he or she can assure a potential or current employer by proving the accreditation if the need arises. If the student plans on furthering his or her education at a traditional university, he or she should check with the college of choice to make sure all credits earned from the accredited distance learning program will be recognized. Some of the educators are part of the accrediting agencies so they are a good source in making educational choices.