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Readin' and Writin'

© Michael Cruse

It's time for my second article and already I'm deviating from what I'd intended to do with this topic. The subject of distance learning is constantly evolving, so much that it seemed too limiting to just focus on my own experiences. The truth is, I didn't realize what a broad topic this was when I wrote my first article. Thanks to the feedback I received, I'm going to try looking at a variety of the subjects people are studying online. That being said, I invite anyone with subjects they would like to see explored in future articles to drop me a line.

For the sake of this article, I'm going to retrace my steps a little bit back to a subject which benefits everyone interested in education: writing. To anyone accessing distance learning, this is unarguably the most important skill to develop. Online, people are judged by how well they communicate. Learning to write clearly and effectively makes the prospects for success with distance learning all the greater. Given the importance of good writing skills, it is not surprising the number of resources available online. With so many different sources to choose from, it's impractical to try making any specific recommendations; however, it is worthwhile to consider the general distinctions between the different offerings.

The best place to begin is to look at your individual needs. What is your educational background and what are your goals for distance learning? Answers to these questions will help to make your decision between classes that are part of a degree program and those that are not. If you are considering earning a degree, decide whether you are comfortable with doing all of your learning online, or if you'd prefer being able to take some of your coursework in person. Many universities and even some smaller colleges offer degree programs combining distance and classroom learning. If this is an option for you, check with the schools in your area to see what is available.

Otherwise, if you're just looking to improve or expand upon your writing skills, there are even more options, ranging from business to fiction writing classes. Class formats vary from open classes to group study and even individual tutorials. Since these offerings are non-academic, there seems to be greater competition for student dollars and, just like anything based on e-commerce, that means discounts and deals of every shape and size. Unlike traditional higher education systems, distance learning is still young enough that there isn't an established heirarchy with which to judge one program against another. Given that a lot depends upon the individual fit between a student's needs and a programs offerings, it's important to do some comparison shopping. About.com offers a good springboard for your search at