Distance education is oftentimes referred to as “Distance Learning” as well, and is simply defined as “a field of education focusing on the andragogy and pedagogy, instructional systems, and technology which endeavor to deliver an education to students who are not physically in a classroom or campus setting.” In its simplest terms, it means earning a degree online.
The use of electronic (i.e. computers) and printed media enable the student to pursue their education without attending classes on a college or university campus. They are enabled to communicate and study at the times they select, through various technologies that allow them to interact in real time and through many different ways using the internet.
Additionally, distance education courses do not require any physical presence on-site for reasons inclusive of taking examinations that are considered to be blended or hybrid courses of study.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning
Naturally, there are advantages and disadvantages to distance education degree programs. However, contrary to varied beliefs and opinions, the distance education advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
The Advantages of distance learning are:
1. It requires no commuting – therefore saving you money and time
2. You complete most of the classes at your own pace – no pressure
3. You can live anywhere in the world, study from anywhere in the world, and pursue your choice of distance education course studies
4. Gain extra knowledge while you are learning – taking those computer and internet skills you gain and then applying them to other facets of your life
5. The self-paced learning environment can be taken advantage of by the quickest or the slowest of learners – increases the satisfaction level while reducing stress in the process
6. Accessibility factors – distance education courses address the physical accessibility issues that people with mobility problems oftentimes encounter while being enrolled in the traditional on-campus classes
Unfortunately, you can’t discuss the advantages of distance education without covering the disadvantages. These disadvantages are the following:
7. Sometimes the technology is complex and costly – despite the numerous opportunities of distance education, there are always accompanying costs
8. Advance planning is necessary – both the instructors and the students oftentimes need to make sacrifices scheduling the times to get things done
9. Beware of hidden costs – If you’re in naval branch of the military for example, and you are out at sea, how do you receive your study materials?
10. Distance learning does not offer immediate feedback – in the traditional classroom setting, the student’s performance is immediately assessed, whereas with distance education, the student has to wait for feedback while the instructor is reviewing their work
11. Distance learning does not always offer all the necessary courses online – students pursuing specific certificates or degrees may not be afforded all the necessary courses that are available through distance education programs so some programs are not suited for all course of study.
12. Distance learning may not be acknowledged by all employers – granted, most employers will acknowledge distance education, but there are some who don’t
13. Distance learning does not give students the opportunity to work on oral communication skills – students in distance education courses do not always get to engage in verbal interaction with fellow students and professors
14. Social isolation – more often than not, you study alone and distance learning students often times feel isolated and miss the social interaction that accompanies the traditional classroom on campus
Distance education is a field of education that focuses on the use of technology, and instructional systems designed to deliver education to students who are not physically on site. Rather than attending courses in person, the teachers and students communicate at times of their own choosing by exchanging printed or electronic media. Education may also be delivered through newer technology that allows them to communicate in real time.
Various education formats exist for this type of non-traditional learning. This may exist as correspondence classes conducted via regular mail or as internet based classes that may be delivered synchronously or asynchronously. Many schools are now using telecourse broadcasting where content is delivered by radio or television. Often a CD-ROM is provided where the student interacts with computer content stored on the disc.
Distance education technologies are expanding at an extremely rapid rate. Many people choose this learning style for its convenience and speed. Online students are able to work at their own pace and often finish faster than traditional students. As educational institutions extend their campuses, as the population ages, and as the advance of technology requires a greater need for worker retraining, schools will increasingly have to cater to a different type of student in order to stay ahead and serve their communities.
Although technology is an integral part of distance education, any successful program must focus on the instructional needs of the students, rather than on the technology itself. It is essential to consider their ages, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, interests and experiences, educational levels, and familiarity with distance education methods and delivery systems. Students usually adapt more quickly than their teachers to new technology. On the other hand, teachers who have begun to feel comfortable with the equipment don’t mind having their students teach them new tips and tricks . The most important factor for successful distance learning is a caring, concerned teacher who is confident, experienced, at ease with the equipment, uses the media creatively, and maintains a high level of interactivity with the students.
Interest in online education is especially high in areas where the student population is widely distributed. Each region has developed its own form of distance education in accordance with local resources, target audience, and philosophy of the organizations which provide the instruction. Many institutions now offer courses for self-motivated individuals through independent study programs. Students can work on their own, with supplied course materials, print-based media and postal communication, some form of teleconferencing and/or electronic networking, and learner support from tutors and mentors via telephone or E-mail. St. Augustine Medical Assistant School at http://www.medassistant.org is one such institution now using such technology to train medical assistant and heath care workers.
The number of distance learning and online programs now available is enormous and is growing daily. Similarly the number of schools and institutions that offer learning online is also expanding rapidly. In a survey by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, it was found that “…by 2005, more than 3.2 million students were participating in on-line learning at institutions of higher education in the United States.” The Sloan report was based on a poll of academic leaders, says that students generally appear to be at least as satisfied with their on-line classes as they are with traditional ones. Properly trained staff must also be hired to work with students on-line. These staff members must be able to not only understand the content area, but also be highly trained in the use of the computer and Internet. Online education is increasing.
The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 led Congress to make the Teach Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant Program (TEACH), providing potential future teachers with $4,000 each year in grants in order to pay for their education, particularly if they come from a family with not much income. Wen you want to find out more about the TEACH Grant Program, you just have to check out your college’s financial aid office, as they can help you get started on your journey.
When you get a TEACH Grant, it is with the proviso that you have to start work as a full-time teacher, educating low income students at a public or private secondary school or elementary. After your TEACH Grant is awarded, you have to teach around four years in the next eight years after you finish your degree that you got through the TEACH Grant. You have to keep in mind that, if you do not get this service obligation met within the allotted time, it will switch to a federal unsubsidized Stafford loan. You will then have to repay your grant to the Department of Education. You will also have to pay the back interest from the disbursement date.
If you want to get a TEACH Grant, you have to qualify on the following grounds:
Fill out your FAFSA form, though you do not require it in order to prove your financial need. Have a status as a US citizen. Enroll yourself in any part of the higher education process, given that you have an appropriate school that works with the TEACH program. Take a course of study that will lead you to the classes needed to have a teaching career. Provided your preferred field of teaching, you have to take courses that will facilitate your ability to educate there. Maintain a GPA of 3.25 or higher, or otherwise meet the requirements that are given to you by the school in order to keep in good standing. Get your TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve signed.
You can get TEACH Grants in such high need fields as English Language Acquisition, Foreign Language, Reading Specialist, Science, Special Education, Bilingual Education, Mathematics, and many more fields of study that have shortages of qualified teachers in the nation when you get the grant.
If you are working in a low income school, you will know if it is listen in the Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits created by the Department of Education. The tcll.ed.gov Website is a great place to find this Directory.
You have to sign your TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve each year that you get the grant; you can use the Department of Education Website to find this agreement each time. In the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve, you can find the conditions that you have to meet in order to get the grant, as well as what you need to qualify for teaching service; this can include saying that you recognize that you consent to having the TEACH Grant switched to an unsubsidized federal loan in the event that you do not get a teaching job in the right time period.