Texas Distance LearningIn Texas, as in other states and countries, distance learning was once considered with suspicion. Even open-minded individuals who could see possible benefits considered it less reliable than traditional, face-to-face college courses. The earliest form of distance learning was correspondence courses. Anyone could enroll, and schools sent print materials through the mail. Students completed the work on their own time and without direct instruction, mailed it back, and waited for a response. The advent of the electronic age brought home computers and video cameras, followed shortly by the internet, and suddenly distance learning began to make a lot more sense. Schools could now enlist instructors willing to create multimedia presentations, including written documents, e-books, videos, and audio productions so that students could replicate the experiences of a classroom virtually. If anything, distance learning allows instructors to be even more available. Webinars and online chats permit classes to “meet” at scheduled times to give students the opportunity to ask questions that might benefit their virtual classmates. Emails may be exchanged quickly and easily, and most distance learning instructors check in several times a day. If you are interested in distance learning, it’s important to understand that the term covers a range of possibilities. Many Texas colleges and universities offer certificates and diplomas, as well as associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees via distance learning. Some courses are designed to be completed virtually, without ever stepping foot on campus. Others may be hybrid classes requiring that students be physically present one or more times throughout the semester. Distance learning can save Texan students time. Hours that would otherwise be spent traveling back and forth to the campus and finding parking can now go directly into study time. Students who are familiar with material through work experience or who are excellent students and are on top of assignments no longer have to lose valuable class time while the instructor answers a question posed by another student with an obvious answer. And students who have been working in a particular field and are taking the distance learning class in order to advance their careers will find that some of the material doesn’t require much effort to learn, since it’s already familiar. Distance learning can also save money. Gas has become very expensive in recent years, and even a relatively brief commute several times a week adds up. The more you drive, the more often you have to change the oil and the quicker maintenance schedules come around. Cars with a good number of miles on them are going to break down sooner or later, and with the added miles required to get to a physical campus, this will happen even sooner! Texas is one of the leading states in distance education support. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, created in 1965, sponsors a website for Texas distance learning students and faculty. Among the information the website offers is a list of accredited public and private schools that offer distance learning options. Another source of information is the Virtual College of Texas database, where visitors can learn about distance learning programs offered through Texas community colleges. In 1996, the nonprofit Texas Distance Learning Association was created to respond to the needs and foster the goals of institutions offering distance learning options to Texas residents. Its website keeps visitors up to date about new technology and other advancements that will offer distance learners other options or improve the delivery of information. Teleconferencing via satellite or the internet as well as videoconferencing via two-way television is made available through the Texas State Library. Of course, this mode of education isn’t a good fit for everybody. Some students, often those who are younger, assume that since classes don’t meet formally they don’t meet at all. They might see distance learning as an opportunity to obtain credits for a class in which they’ve done very little work. Nothing is further from the truth. As with face-to-face classes, distance learning classes require students to digest a great deal of information. They are expected to ask questions or do further research to clarify anything they don’t understand. In some cases, students can take as long as they want to finish a class, but more often the work does need to be completed by the end of the semester. Depending upon the instructor and the material, it’s also likely that there will be deadlines within the course period in which papers are due, tests must be taken, and projects turned in. It’s important for everyone interested in Texas distance learning programs to understand their own learning styles. Some people are happiest working with others; they thrive around classmates going through the same experience. Others may be insecure for a variety of reasons, or have a great deal of trouble grasping the material in a particular course. In both cases, attending class on a physical campus might be their best option. But distance learning is perfect for anyone who is motivated, well organized, and determined. Students who have already been in the work world and understand that without higher education it is nearly impossible to advance are usually more disciplined about putting in the effort than students who don’t really value education. The state of Texas has recognized the importance of distance learning for many years. Individuals who are currently employed and unable to forgo a steady paycheck in order to return to school can use distance learning courses and programs to gain the training and education needed to step higher on the professional ladder. They can learn at their own pace, during their free time, on weekends, or when there is a slow period at work. Parents who can’t justify leaving their children with a babysitter several times a week in order to attend classes and study so that they can ultimately benefit the family with a better, more secure life are discovering that distance learning serves as a way to provide for the family both now and in the future without sacrificing family time. After the children have been fed and tucked into bed, the parent can “attend” class. Distance learning also helps individuals who are disabled or incarcerated and cannot get to a physical campus the opportunity to better themselves. Immigrants who are learning English but are not yet fluent enough to keep up with rapid conversation in a class or understand an instructor’s complex lecture find that distance learning allows them the time they need to digest material for fuller understanding. |