Whatever you want to label “learning at home” and however you want to define the latest buzz words for non-traditional education, you can find a program and method that suits your needs. Right now over 1.2 million people in the U.S. participate in some form of distance learning, with a projected expansion to 2.3 million in just a few years.
In looking at this rapidly expanding and viable form of education and training, there are a few basic things you need to consider and some decisions you need to make in order to create the environment that will best suit your needs. You need to know the what, the why, the benefits and the how of the various forms of distance learning.
Distance learning (correspondence courses) started in Europe in the 1800’s and has evolved into a multifaceted term that serves many purposes. Some of the forms of distance learning are: correspondence courses, online education, internet based education, electronic education, e-education, electronic learning, and e-learning. How these terms differ will depend upon how the institution defines and labels the programs which they offer. To simplify the whole concept, let’s say that these terms represent ways of learning away from a “brick and mortar” facility. Some distance learning and/or online programs may or may not be connected to a university or college. There are many programs that are independent and are not affiliated with any institution.
Distance learning offers a variety of paths to personal goals which include: GED, associate degrees, bachelor degrees, graduate certificates, master degrees, doctoral degrees, non-credit training courses, and others. Whether a person is seeking a degree, keeping professional skills updated, or pursuing skills for an interest area or hobby, there is a program or offering that should work.
Why are so many people turning to distance learning? What are its advantages? On a personal level look at such pros as: maintaining privacy; provides convenience; enables a flexible schedule; allows for balancing job and family obligations; working at own pace, going slowly or accelerating learning; can be less expensive; great for homebound individuals; no unnecessary travel; no formal class attendance; and can “learn while you earn.” These are a few of the many things that are causing quite a number of people to take an entirely different approach to attaining knowledge/skills and/or earning a degree.
Those who advocate against an alternative of distance learning, often site the lack of socialization which is a part of a traditional type of education. However, not everyone is looking for the classroom activities, college events/parties, and the interactions that are a part of a school campus. Many of the classroom activities such as discussion and support can be achieved online. The other things that an online education will reinforce are: reading – ebooks, up to date
references, current research; listening – through audio lectures or clips; seeing- through graphic illustrations and demonstrations; doing – assignments, quizzes, exams, research papers; and speaking/communication – through email, chats, and electronic discussions. A distance learning program can be far more than just reading and writing.
What are the requirements for becoming a part of a distance learning program? Many programs require a minimum of a GED or taking an admissions test. Usually, the process for applying will include: an application; transcripts; test scores; an essay; and letters of recommendation. The less formal the program, the less formal the requirements. There is a wide range in answering this questions. However, what is necessary for an online program is the right computer equipment with the internet connection (high speed), word processing capability; email; and multimedia player. The program you choose will provide more specific details for recommendation about equipment and software.
In choosing a program there some questions to ask as you do your research and make your selection. Ask about the following: help/support is offered; qualifications of the instructors; number of years the institution has provided services; is it an accredited program; details about the curriculum; and multimedia elements of the program. By the way, accreditation is voluntary since there is no officially sanctioned entity in existence. However, most schools considered the six regional accrediting agencies listings to be legitimate agencies. Ask if it is regionally accredited.
The last thing you need to think about is your motivation and work ethic. If you are a good reader (good reading comprehension skills) who doesn’t procrastinate and can avoid distractions, you will be a good candidate for an alternative approach to education. In this age of global education and the need for current knowledge and skills, this is a fast delivery system that will bring all the technological advancement right into your living room instantaneously. It works for more than a million people, and it can work for you.
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By: Barbara Snyder
Posts Tagged ‘Brick And Mortar’
Distance Learning, Online Education, Electronic Education, Electronic Learning.Call It What You Wa
March 5th, 2010Distance Learning Systems – Enriching Your Knowledge Through Online Education
December 4th, 2009
Distance learning systems refer to the arrangements that allow you to get online education with the help of Internet right from your home. This is yet another big achievement of modern technology in the direction of improving our lifestyle. Distance learning education lets you quench your thirst for knowing more about the various aspects of the world. Moreover, many people have successfully used distance learning online courses to move ahead in their respective careers.
Features Of Cyber World Colleges
Distance learning systems have eliminated the requirement of being present in a particular location to attain a specific skill. This is where the cyber world colleges are totally different from our brick and mortar colleges. This is especially helpful for you, if you wish to avoid peer pressure. With the help of distance learning systems, you can also get rid of popularity contests that has become a part of the college culture these days.
Flexible learning schedule is one more advantage of distance learning systems. Unlike traditional classrooms, you can attend virtual classes at a time when you are not engaged in any other type of responsibility. For example, a working person can attend his or her class after duty hours. Similarly, a housewife can take benefit of this facility when her kids have gone to school.
The only drawback of distance learning systems is that you yourself have to supervise your progress. The task of your online instructors is limited only up to providing you online lessons. They cannot monitor how well or badly you are doing regarding your studies. It simply means that your responsibility is much more than a traditional student.
By: Rishabh Sogani
BA Degree – Education Online
November 25th, 2009
There are those who are born to teach. That is their only dream in life – to become a teacher. Many people know that teachers are overworked and underpaid. Teaching is the only way that will fulfill the lives of born teachers. If you want to become a teacher, however, one must first obtain a college degree, which is a lot easier said than done.
Attending a college or university and getting a degree that allows one to teach means four full years of attending classes, lectures, labs, etc. Is it cheap? Not a chance. The price of a four-year degree education is far outpacing the rate of inflation. There are not a lot of hard working families who can afford to send a child to college for four years without some financial help.
Scholarships become part of our dinner or lunchtime conversations. No more than high school diploma, their hopes for advancing beyond entry level are greatly diminished. To earn power of many people who has a high school diploma or a GED is twice as good as it is for those without either. But to earn potential of many people with a BA degree is twice as good as that of those who only have a high school diploma or a GED. To get a BA degree makes good financial sense.
You will earn as much money over your lifetime with a BA education degree as you will earn without one. It all comes down to ponds or cents. Now days a person of any age or background can get a BA degree online. No admission requirements to meet and the price is only a fraction of that required for attending a brick-and-mortar college or university.
The progress toward getting a BA degree can be made at each student’s own pace. There are no requirements for how many credit hours must be signed up for in any given period of time. During you study the degree course of the struggle to figure out how to pay for a college education, some families and potential college students discover that courses can be taken online. If you want full degrees in education can be earned online and at a fraction of the cost of a four year career at a brick and mortar college or university.
A B.A education degree allows the born to teach teacher to teach and without starting out so deeply in debt that they will spend years crawling out from under it. The thing an online student needs to find out for he is if an online degree is accepted by the school at which he or she wishes to teach. Online B.A education degrees are being accepted more often now but all schools do not accept a degree that was totally earned online.
A mixture of brick and Mortar College and universities courses and online college courses is the best answer. One quick here, you have to check for accreditation. Many online School, colleges and universities announce that they are accredited. They institution never hide the fact you will not have to dig through many pages on their websites to determine whether they are accredited or not. The same is true for brick colleges and universities. They will always say that they are an accredited institution.
By: Syeda Mahwish Fatima Naqvi
