Distance Learning CoursesMany colleges and universities offer students the opportunity to study in distance learning programs off campus, in the convenience of the students’ own homes. Some schools offer entire programs of study designed to be completed virtually, while others link a number of distance learning courses that students pursue at their own pace with a few required face-to-face classes that collectively permit the student to earn an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or even a doctoral degree.
In other cases, nearly all the work is done through distance learning. Students might meet with the teacher once at the beginning of the semester and one or two more times over the course of the semester. The first meeting is usually arranged for all class members, and latter meetings might also be for everyone or might be brief independent meetings that involve one-on-one instruction, small group instruction, or a seminar for the entire class. If students are rarely required to be on campus, they are more likely to be given the option of moving through the material entirely at their own pace, as long as it is completed by the end of the semester. However, some instructors still prefer that all students follow a schedule with regular deadlines to make grading easier. Nearly all colleges and universities that offer distance learning options have their instructors and students use a dedicated computer program that facilitates communication between teacher and student. These programs are becoming increasingly sophisticated. At the dawn of modern distance learning about 40 years ago, students either had to “attend” class by watching regularly scheduled television instruction shows or, a little later, by watching videos of an instructor holding class. These early forms of instruction were supplemented by textbooks, handouts, quizzes, and other class work materials. Most often, when a student signed up for this early type of distance learning, the materials were either mailed or the student was required to pick them up from the teaching institution, and the student had to deliver completed work to the instructor via the mail or by dropping materials off at school. Communication occurred via letters or over the telephone if the instructor or program permitted it. Later, faxes were added to those methods of communication. Today, programs like Blackboard and Angel permit instructors to post videos, set up blogs, instruct students via chats, provide links to sources outside the shell that might be useful, and even accept papers and tests that are automatically checked for plagiarism against huge databases that include website content, as well as student papers that have been submitted to instructors in colleges and universities around the world. There are a number of reasons students might want to consider taking one or more distance learning courses. There’s no question that distance learning is a boon to anyone with a full-time job or a family, especially if the children are young. People with physical disabilities that make traveling from home to school difficult, as well as those who don’t have easy access to a car or public transportation, might also want to consider taking some distance learning courses. Not only do distance learning students save money in gas and the time that driving back and forth to campus would require, but they also save in other ways. For instance, in face-to-face classes, a certain amount of the lecture period is taken up with student questions. Students who are familiar with the material through life or work experience, as well as those who have done a good job of keeping up with the required reading, might find a portion of their class time is taken up with unnecessary questions posed by students who haven’t done their work or didn’t understand basic ideas. With distance learning, students need only focus on what they don’t know, not what someone else in the class doesn’t understand. Students with life or work experience that directly aligns with the material under study can save a lot of time, and those with excellent study habits often learn to organize material in such a way that their own learning is streamlined and efficient. However, it’s important to note that distance learning isn’t for everyone. Some students really do learn best surrounded by peers. They might discover that questions other students ask are useful to them, as well, because they hadn’t gotten that far in their thinking yet to arrive at those questions. Other students may be new to college or returning after an absence of many years. These students may not feel secure enough to jump right into distance learning courses. Still other students need to consider their own motivation, sense of commitment, and ability to manage time and responsibility. Distance learning is rarely a good fit for younger students who haven’t yet mastered the importance of following schedules, for example, although there are, of course, exceptions. Students who wait until the last minute to complete an assignment aren’t likely to fare well in a distance learning course. The work they turn in will be subpar and their grades will reflect it. Another consideration is that the psychology of learning is entirely different with distance learning courses. Not only might the student feel disconnected from classmates and the instructor, but the instructor, too, won’t feel as personally involved with students. In many cases this might be perfectly acceptable, and even advantageous; the student must offer definite proofs of learning, and as long as those proofs are given, there’s no need for the teacher’s emotional involvement. But when a student hits a wall and really needs some personal support, it can be a little harder to get the distance learning instructor’s attention. However, most instructors are willing to either meet with students on campus, if necessary, or communicate privately via email once they understand the problem the student is facing. For motivated, mature learners who have developed time management and responsibility skills, distance learning courses can be a real lifesaver. They are a way to further oneself professionally by earning a higher degree or certification, and open a world of possibility for those students whose lifestyles might forbid attendance at a brick-and-mortar school. |
Distance learning courses that require some on-site attendance typically offer a couple of different options. Hybrid classes combine regularly scheduled classes in a brick-and-mortar setting with independent work that the student does at home. In many cases, this independent work must be completed by a certain date, since the scheduled classes build upon the knowledge students have gained through their independent studies.