* Distance learning can seem daunting at first glance, but once you have taken the time to understand how it works you may find that it can be a better option than the typical brick and mortar school. Distance learning is most recently done via the internet. You can go online and log into the student portal to access your classrooms. This can be done on your own time, whenever you have the availability. Most of your class work is done through asynchronous communication. In other words, your fellow classmates and professors are in different locations and communicate through threaded discussion and email. As part of your course work, you will be required to respond to discussion questions in the main forum. As part of your attendance, you must post at least twice to these discussion questions. In order to make your participation grade you must also respond to other classmates’ posts twice on at least four different days. Your initial response to the discussion question does not count towards your participation grade, so it is very important to keep track of your posts. You will also have required reading to complete and individual assignments due throughout your classes. Your professor will give feedback on your assignments in your individual forum.…
Distance Learning: Distance learning is in many ways self-directed learning. It requires a high level of responsibility, dedication, and self-discipline on the part of the students. In this course, you are responsible for your own work, your own progress, and your own grade. In order to succeed, you need to back up every piece of work you do on disk and make a hard copy. If you experience computer difficulties you are responsible for solving your own technical problems. Heavy internet use occurs during the evening hours of 8-10pm. You might consider logging on at other times if possible.…
“Can You Be Educated from a Distance,” an insightful essay by James Barszcz, brings to focus some of the benefits and disadvantages of Distance Learning education (DL). In it, Barszcz discusses the mechanics of DL courses available to students, the quality of education DL can offer, and some reasoning behind its rapidly growing popularity. “Can You Be Educated from a Distance” is an engaging article that students of all ages can benefit from.…
Distant learning began in the mid-19th century in Europe and the United States (California Distance Learning Project, 2011). These early distance learning programs were innovative at the time of their inception and created through the advances in technology, specifically the new penny post system (California Distance Learning Project, 2011). The next stage of innovation occurred in the 1920s with radio-based courses and later in the 1940s with television-based courses; again technology in the communication sector drove the innovation (California Distance Learning Project, 2011). The advancement of computer-network communication in the 1980s and 1990s produced further innovation in distance learning, moving these courses online. As computer-network communications advance the distance learning courses are…
Distance Education is about you taking your education to another level of learning, without having your professor right in front of you teaching you the material, to get that degree. It’s about having to learn sitting in front of a computer based. It helps you to understand the potential you have to get it, to receive it.…
“Advantages of a distance education format included increased access to higher education, flexible scheduling of personal time, convenient location, individualized attention by the instructor, less travel, and increased time to think about and respond to questions posed by the instructor. (Matthews, 1999)”…
As I read this article, I found myself often nodding in agreement with the writer’s opinions. I’m reminded that everyone learns differently, and all of us respond individually to the information we take in. Even more interestingly to me is that some of us change learning styles as we grow. When I was in high school I remember being able to retain material much more easily than I do now.…
Lei, Simon A. and Rajeev K. Gupta. “College Distance Education Courses: Evaluating Benefits and Costs from Institutional, Faculty and Students’ Perspectives.” Education, vol. 130, no. 4, Summer2010, pp. 616-631. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=50839014&site=ehost-live.…
With the vast spreading use of the Internet, and tremendous advances in the technological world, it is changing many different aspects of our lives. One of which would be electronic learning, also known as online education. In the past couple of years, this way of attaining higher education has become more and more universal. There are many advantages to taking online classes, but there are also a lot of disadvantages. Some of the pros of participating in these online courses would consist of scheduling, location, pace, and savings/tuition. When viewing the cons of taking online classes you may want to understand there can be limited instructor interaction, distraction, technological glitches, and limited campus interaction. While this form of education may appeal to a broad category of people, every student learns differently.…
Second, one must establish, which method of learning is appropriate for their educational needs, lifestyle, and time availability. If time is a big factor in one’s lifestyle, online classes will be a better option, because of the allotment of flexibility, free of parking worries, and there is no set time for daily classes. This allows the student more time to cover other daily responsibilities. However, on campus classes allows the student to have a more hands on experience with learning, and closer learning interaction with classmates and instructors.…
One of the most important decisions of attending college is whether online study is best for you, whereas online classes are a more advantageous way for many people to attend college, there are also some negative aspects that must be considered. Many people today are choosing to further their education by taking online classes, as some people find that it is more convenient, some believe it offers a better learning environment, and lastly some are attracted to online study by the reduced cost and travel time. Some advantages of taking online classes are you can juggle your home, work, and educational responsibilities in a more convenient way, where scheduling out time for a traditional class in the middle of the day or in the evening can be challenging, yet online classes can be taken at your own pace and on your own time schedule. In addition, study can be done anywhere that a computer and internet are available (Elearning-Companion). Another advantage is that many students find online study to be a better learning environment for them because of the different learning styles and the array of learning activities that could be unavailable in traditional classrooms (Elearning-Companion). “Online learning may be more student-centered if it allows students the option to select learning materials that meet their level of knowledge and interest (Elearning-Companion).” A third advantage is that the cost and travel time is cut down considerably by not having to spend as much on gas and the time it takes going to and from classes. Thus, online study can be a much more effective way of furthering your education, although the decision can have a different outcome for every student, as there are also disadvantages to online study. Some disadvantages students may encounter with online study are that it is harder to stay…
The author of this article takes the side for distance learning. The reason for this is mainly because this website is a distance learning guide. He/she talks about why choose distance learning over traditional face-to-face. The authors main support behind this is social changes. Because the entire country is technologically evolving, demanding more technologically skilled persons. The author also talks about who uses distance learning.…
Secondly, one learns in a more disciplined atmosphere. One has to attend the classes regularly and in time. This results are in a more focused and systematic study. This leads to better preparation for the examinations and consequently better results. Also, one can easily access reference books and other valuable reading material from the school/ university Library. But distance learning places some limitations on approaching materials. You cannot access library to get more knowledge. So you have plenty of knowledge resources available with you if you choose classroom learning.…
Accessibility: The Distance from a university campus is no longer a barrier in the education of students. Today's generation have the advantage of utilizing time effectively, since there are numerous choices in distant online education for them. For the student to access online education, all he or she needs is a personal computer with internet access with which he or she can find the desired courses online and enroll. The online education systems ensure that the student's put all their energies into studies. Travel is a one of the major issue that is associated with taking on-the-campus classes if the students reside in remote rural areas. Online education has provided a remedy for issues with those residing remotely. Now, they can attend online classes and save time and money. For example, a child of a farmer can help the family out in the morning with the farming chores then go to an online class later on.…
The “anytime, anywhere” aspect of online learning is the most significant advantage over traditional classroom (Arbaugh, 2004:171, cited by Brandon & Hollingshead, 1999; Dede, 1991; Harasim, 1990). Learners can process material at any time from any place (Paechter & Maier, 2010:296, citied by Artino & Stephens, 2009; Narciss et al, 2007). For students who cannot afford to take away from their time-dependent jobs, online programs provide flexibility in time and pace of study so that they are able to work meanwhile maintaining the universities’ academic commitment (Sharpe & Benfield, 2005; Conrad & Donaldson, 2004; Kruger-Ross & Waters, 2013). Moreover, by accessing a learning management system such as Moodle, Blackboard, course website, students can achieve clarity about their course information like assignments, test dates to the full extent (Kruger-Ross & Waters, 2013:181). On the other hand, online learning could be time-consuming…