Imagine sitting in the comfort of your living room in pajamas and slippers while participating in a classroom discussion of English literature. Seem impossible? Through distance learning, you can do exactly this. Distance learning provides courses over the Internet, allowing you to learn without leaving your home or stepping on a college campus. It can provide the flexibility that you need to do schoolwork around your existing schedule.
However, while distance learning sounds attractive, it is not for everyone. Some students just don't learn as well when not in the presence of a professor and roomful of students. In fact, some students find that it is the classroom setting with the interactions, debate and discussions continued after class in hallways and student centers that is the real benefit of going to college. Plus, there's less guilt from skipping a distance learning class than in-person classes. This means that you must be extremely self-motivated to attend the online sessions and complete your assignments.
Yet, despite these drawbacks, distance learning is still a viable option for many adult students. Here, we outline how distance learning programs work, how to figure out if they are right for you, how to select the best ones and how to succeed in a program.
As its name suggests, distance learning basically means that you will receive instruction from a distance, typically via the Internet. There are some distance learning programs that incorporate cd-roms that you use with your computer or lectures via remote television broadcasts. Through distance learning, you may take individual courses to learn specific skills or even complete an entire degree.
Typically, instead of going to a physical classroom, your meeting place is the Internet. Work is similar to that of regular courses. You will still have reading assignments, homework, quizzes and exams. What's different is you do not need to meet in a classroom at a specific time for discussions, and you can work independently. Professors give assignments online or via email, and students are often expected to participate in discussions through online message boards. You email assignments into your professor, and he or she grades them and provides feedback through email as well. Since you usually don't have to participate in the discussions at the same time as the other students, you can fit the course to your schedule—such as after 10 p.m. when your kids go to sleep. There are, however, still deadlines for when papers and assignments are due.
To determine if distance learning is right for you, see how many times you answer "yes" to the following questions. The more often you do, the more likely it is that distance learning may work for you.
Unlike choosing a traditional college or university program, you don't necessarily have to choose a distance learning program within driving distance. In fact, you can choose one out of town or out of state. However, there is more to choosing a program than simply pointing and clicking on the first one that you find.
First, make sure that the program is fully accredited, especially if you plan to pursue a degree. Employers as well as other colleges and universities place a high value on programs that are fully accredited.
Gen and Kelly Tanabe
Founders of SuperCollege and authors of 13 books on college planning.
By: Gen & Kelly Tanabe
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Fulfill your dream of going back to school--painlessly! Whether you're going back to school for the first time, returning after an absence or advancing or changing your career, this book will help.