Distance Learning Degrees No Joke Catches On - Online by Martha M Lapinski
Distance learning has been around for quite some time, but it seems that the old ways to learn have given way to something new: online courses catch on in U.S. colleges. Should you check out this option in earning continuing education credits or maybe even a degree? You may be sorry if you don't research these opportunities; online courses are the wave of the future.
It's hard to deny that times are changing. There is a large majority of people that pay all of their bills online rather than sending a check. In fact, with the advent of the internet and high-speed access, some people can complete every transaction they need without leaving their homes. This includes obtaining a college degree.
According to a survey completed in 2007, nearly 1/5 of all college students has taken, or will take, at least one online class. That percentage is probably a little bit low, as some studies have reported over 51% of all students in college currently attending online classes.
What is the appeal of E-learning, the new catch-phrase for distance learning, and why are so many people using this as their means to get a quality education? The reasons are different for the instructors and the students, but they're also very similar.
For students, E-learning means you don't have to spend your day in classes, especially if you have other obligations like a full-time job. Online classes afford students the flexibility they may need to work and go to school. As long as a student has high-speed internet access, they can access their online courses at any time of the day or night.
For instructors, these new classes give them the ability to communicate with their students in a way never-before possible. Most online classes are smaller than traditional classes, and the instructor is able to have online conversations with their students, no matter where that student might be located.
What is the benefit of an online class over a traditional one? The student chooses to be in class; they pay better attention, and even participate in the class, which is becoming rare in brick-and-mortar classrooms. Some students believe the awkwardness of delays is far outweighed by the quality of conversation and feedback they receive.
Another benefit of online classes is the fact that it is available 24 hours a day. Does it matter that some students can't attend the discussion and forum time? No, they are still able to complete the assignments, all of which are posted on the content management system. Basically the class doesn't stop because each time someone responds to a question or turns in an assignment, the information is passed along to others in the class. In fact, instructors of online classes say the work is more difficult, but that it is also more rewarding because of the participation level of the students.
Non-traditional students, those that are older or are already in the workforce, generally make up a good part of the online student population, but that doesn't mean they take their classes any less seriously than students in a lecture hall. In fact, it seems that online students are more serious about what they're doing. They realize the importance of participation, especially since they're taking time away from family and friends to continue.
Instructors who teach both online and offline courses agree that the technology today is taking education to new heights. Students can be from across the country, or across the world, but they come together in a sense of community and camaraderie that does a teacher good.
It's about time education moved into the 21st century. Take advantage of the new online courses as they catch on in U.S. colleges. But don't wait too long, you may miss the education revolution and the next technology wave about to hit – m-learning, which is learning by your mobile phone.
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Source : Distance learning education online information at goarticles.com
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