The original concept of distance learning involved a student connecting with a course via correspondence with no personal communication with tutors or professors. However, today?s technology enables brilliant connections to be made between professors and students, as well as between students themselves. Distance learning is delivered via electronic platforms, often supplemented by Skype calls and other technology sharing. So the ?distance? aspect is being removed, but the student is not physically attending an institution. It is the way forward for international students to gain world-class qualifications.
Distance learning is rapidly gaining ground. Courses can be efficiently delivered to meet the students own timetable and work or domestic needs. It enables students to work when they want to, not when somebody else wants them to. It also lets them re-cover ground they might need help with, in their own time, and with no embarrassment.
Today?s technology lets them put their questions to their tutors, and the tutors can answer them either in ?real-time? or at some other time, especially when multiple time zones are involved. It makes the learning experience very much easier.
In essence, as a distance learning student YOU are in charge of the learning process, not the institution. Conversely, if you are not a self-starter or seriously motivated, there is no one there to chase you up. So the distance learner has to be much more self-reliant. However, technology is once again coming to our aid through student support circles which quickly develop on distance learning courses. So it is a only for a short period that students may think they are on their own; help and support are close by.?
Distance learning courses can appeal to different people at different times in their lives. They are ideal for people already in the work place who want to get better qualified. They are ideal for people who want to reach towards an international standard but who can?t afford either the time or the money to make the trip abroad. They are ideal for people who left formal learning a number of years previously and who want to explore new possibilities.
Everyone has a ?learning style? and distance learning can be adapted to individual?s own learning patterns so much easier than other methods. Even the technology is less expensive and easier to manage these days, so the barriers for higher academic progress through distance learning are rapidly diminishing.
By David Boddy, Principal Partner, ASIS