Home » Education & Career » Higher Education » Distance Learning and Online Coursework

Distance Learning and Online Coursework

© ML Arthur

In the education world right now, there is a lot of hype about distance learning and online courses. These types of education are lauded as being able to bring education to all who want and need it, even if they have commitments to jobs and family or suffer from illnesses that prevent them from leaving home. Many types of distance learning opportunities are available, from sites like http://www.fathom.com and http://www.kaplancollege.com that offer interesting courses that may or may not grant credit towards your educational goals to traditional schools like The University of Massachusetts at Amherst (http://www.umass.edu) that offer a few courses online and supplement some courses with online components, from corporate colleges focusing almost all or even their entire efforts on distance and online learning (like the University of Phoenix @ http://www.universityofphoenix.com) to specialized schools like Walden University that offer online graduate degrees requiring a few-weeks stay in the summer (www.waldenu.edu).

It is true that distance learning has a lot to offer. Busy professionals can pursue their graduate degrees in their spare time from home. Mothers who missed out on college can get that Bachelor's degree needed for employment. Homebound individuals and senior citizens can enrich their lives with advanced learning. Bored high school students can take college classes during free periods at school. But is it right for you?

1. Students who are enrolled in distance education miss out on the typical campus experience. If you have no other way of achieving your degree, or if you are just looking for needed career credentials, then distance education will be just fine. If, on the other hand, you are a traditional college student trying to be part of the next wave of education, opt for the tried-and-true method.

2. Make sure that the school you select is accredited by a regional or discipline-specific accrediting body. Many distance learning sites are sketchy, and they either have no accreditation or are accredited by fly-by-night outfits. Email your school and ask who accredits them, then check http://www.chea.org for the name of that organization and email the organization to make sure your school is not lying.

3. If possible, supplement your distance learning experience with traditional classroom learning. Take a few courses at a local college as a special student (check to make sure you can apply them to your degree: basic subjects like English, math, biology, and business are often the easiest to transfer) or choose a program with a face-to-face component (if you are a teacher, some programs have you come all summer; in other industries, you will probably find three-week sessions). Many employers will be glad to grant paid or unpaid leave for the purpose of gaining a better-qualified employee.

The copyright of the article Distance Learning and Online Coursework in Higher Education is owned by ML Arthur. Permission to republish Distance Learning and Online Coursework in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.