Archive for category Distance Education
Different Types of Distance Education
Posted by admin in Distance Education on December 4, 2011
If you are wanting to return to college to finish your degree, you may feel that you cannot commit to a college program that requires you to meet on campus at a particular place and time. Many working adults have other family and professional obligations that hinder them returning to college. Thankfully, there are many different types of distance education programs currently available.
Distance education is divided into two different overarching categories, asynchronous and synchronous. Synchronous instruction requires that all students participate at the same time. The method of delivery is usually interactive and includes telecourses, teleconferences, web conferencing, and internet chat sessions. This mode of distance learning instruction is far less flexible than asynchronous because it requires students to be online at a specific time.
Asynchronous is far more flexible because this mode of instruction does not require simultaneous participation by all students in the class. These modes of instruction give students the freedom to interact with the material and instructor at a time that is convenient for them. However, the one drawback is that students are responsible for their own motivation in getting the work down. Some examples of asynchronous distance learning include online courses, videotaped courses, and correspondence courses. These tend to be more popular among students who are also working professionals. Read the rest of this entry »
The Advantages of Online Distance Learning
Posted by admin in Distance Education, Online Education on December 4, 2011
While not every school leaver has access to the luxury of completing his or her secondary education and spending a number of years pursuing a post-secondary qualification, a thirst for knowledge exists in the hearts of individuals across all socio-economic divides. There is a corresponding need for educational institutions to provide opportunities for education which override geographic and financial barriers. Distance education fills this gap in the educational market, empowering students who are hindered by geographic and socio-economic factors and cannot attend lectures at a face-to-face educational institution. It brings access to quality education to every individual, irrespective of his or her status, place of residence and lifestyle.
The nature of distance education is conducive to affordability, with minimal lecturing staff to be paid and none of the overhead costs of face-to-face teaching facilities. Distance learning institutions generally offer a variety of easy payment options, and course fees tend to be all-inclusive, meaning that all textbooks and study aids are included in the course fees.
Distance learning students do not incur the cost or inconvenience of attending face to face lectures or tutorials. They do, however, have access to all the academic support they need to excel in the course of their choice. Read the rest of this entry »