Online and Distance Learning: Is it For You?

Some decades ago, some parents opted for their children to be home schooling, asserting every belief that it had more advantages over institutional education. With the rise of the information super highway we call the Internet, educators do not have to travel to a student’s home, nor does a student have to leave the home for educational programs. Today, all it takes is a reliable Internet connection, a trusted online distance learning platform, and a great deal of discipline on one’s end. Learn more about distance learning here, and find out whether it is something that can fit into your lifestyle.

First, the good news: You get to save time, effort and money because you don’t need to leave the house. Also, most of the classes are asynchronous – this means, you get to pick your schedule, and often times, you can log on anytime, which is a complete deviation from the standard institutional system where there is a schedule for a professor’s lecture. Also, your location i.e. your city or country, does not have to be a problem, so you don’t have to move just so you can get the education you prefer. Another advantage is the convenience of research. Since you’re going to coordinate with educators online, you only need a few clicks to get you to search engines and websites which can serve as research material. Finally, distance learning allows you to have a self-paced learning curve. You do not need to have a deadline to learn new concepts. It will all depend on your own learning curve, that is, how fast you can learn.

And here are what some consider as setbacks: Because all information is done over the Internet, additional materials have to be created, thus making the program more expensive. Second, it may not at all be a good choice for people who are not technologically capable – or people who do not know how to manipulate a computer skillfully. As opposed the traditional classroom setting wherein an educator provides real-time feedback, feedback in distance learning comes only upon request, upon completion of exams, or on a regular basis. Not all courses are available online. Finally, some distance learning institutions are not accepted by employers as formal education.