Long Distance LearningThanks to long distance learning, it is no longer out of the question for people who would like to further their education but are limited by distance or time obligations, to do so. Over the past few decades, distance learning has really taken off. This is largely due to developments in technology and the internet, which allows students to communicate with instructors and classmates almost as directly as they could if they were face to face. Email, web conferencing, discussion boards, e-books, and other developments continue to make long distance learning not only feasible, but just as effective and far more convenient that traditional on-campus education.
Distance learning isn’t going to work for everyone, though. The failure rate is higher for younger learners who are stepping from high school straight into a long distance learning college program. These students often lack the practical knowledge and the maturity that a few years in the work force provide. They may not be sufficiently committed to earning a degree in order to better their futures, since they haven’t had to face the limitations brought on by lacking a degree. Of course, this isn’t true across the board. Younger students who are mature and focused can and do succeed in distance learning programs. Some students try out a distance learning class only to discover it really isn’t fulfilling. They miss the camaraderie of a classroom environment. They enjoy knowing their classmates and thrive in an environment of energetic classroom discussions and team projects. Highly social learners might find that online classes just don’t offer a sufficient human connection for them. Students who feel insecure about the subject matter might prefer learning in a face-to-face environment where the instructor can answer questions as they arise and provide a little extra support should the student become confused. For a lot of folks, though, distance learning offers the opportunity to gain a degree that would otherwise simply be impossible. People who can’t afford to leave their full-time jobs for a year, or even years, to get that degree can work steadily toward it when their personal time permits. People who have children and don’t want to leave them with babysitters night after night can study after the children are in bed. Immigrant students who can’t immediately follow everything said in a classroom have the opportunity to return to material again and again, to make sure they understand. For these students, distance learning is a real blessing. While many people are under the impression that long distance learning is a relatively recent invention, in fact, it has been around for well over a century. The earliest form of distance learning was correspondence courses, and some long distance learning is still done this way. Students are sent books, handouts, charts, and other printed materials, along with a set of instructions. When they returned completed assignments, the next set is mailed to them. They worked at their own pace and can complete a course as quickly or slowly as their time allows. In some areas of the country, prisoners who are using their incarceration time to turn their lives around by earning a degree are only permitted this form of long distance learning. However, correspondence courses aren’t limited to this use. People who live in remote areas with mail or package delivery but without a reliable internet connection, for example, can still take advantage of distance learning through correspondence courses. Online long distance learning courses that are offered by colleges or universities typically organize materials in a shell such as Blackboard or Angel. Here, students have an individual section for each class. Teachers create folders and post material for each unit of study, and they frequently have the capability to include videos, audio presentations, links to materials outside the shell, and more. Because this form of delivery is so easy to streamline for the needs of each class, some students say the material is actually more applicable to exactly what it is the students are studying. Not all distance learning classes can be completed entirely by virtual means. Some classes are designated as hybrids. This means the class meets on campus part of the time and online for the rest of it. It’s considerably more convenient for students who need flexibility in their meeting schedules, but might require students to visit campus weekly or monthly to attend a class, presentation or seminar. Another arrangement that requires some campus visits involves classes that are taught entirely online, but which require students to take tests on campus. In some cases, an entire program might be available through long distance learning from required introductory classes all the way through to the completion of the degree. It’s possible to earn certificates, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and even doctoral degrees through programs offered online in certain fields. However, anyone interested in these types of programs needs to do due diligence. Some areas of concentration might require certain classes be completed in a face-to-face environment because hands-on training is essential to learning certain necessary skills. Another reason courses of study may require some on-campus attendance is because of accreditation. For example, the American Bar Association currently does not accredit online-only law schools. Since every American state requires practicing attorneys to pass that state’s bar, a law degree that is earned entirely online is not as practical as one earned through a program that combines distance learning with campus-based learning. Accreditation is important, and employers are well aware of which accrediting bodies have the approval of the U.S. Department of Education and which do not. Legitimate accreditation is an involved process that looks at every aspect of a school’s operation to determine if the quality of education is sufficient. Unfortunately, there are some sham accrediting agencies that will give a school their stamp of approval for a fee. The degrees or certifications these schools offer aren’t worth the paper they are printed on. |
Over the last 30 years or so, long distance learning has allowed a lot of people to change their lives for the better. At one time, distance learning was considered experimental, and many employers were not very interested in hiring graduates with degrees that had been earned away from campus. Times have changed, though, and today many fields consider distance learning graduates in the same light as they do traditional learners. In fact, some HR departments look upon distance learners who have completed programs offered by top-notch schools as the cream of the crop. After all, getting through a program on your own from start to finish demonstrates that you are determined, goal oriented, and clearly can manage both time and information in a well organized way.