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Distance education has advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are making this online option very popular. But, before you decide to opt for distance education over traditional education, you must be aware of its disadvantages as well.
Advantages of Distance Education:
Facility: In this economy, it is difficult to take time off from work to pursue an education towards a more secure future. One advantage of distance learning is that it makes it possible for you to maintain employment without any schedule conflicts. Distance education allows students to attend class at any time of the day or night.
Availability: Another advantage of distance learning is that you are not limited to only the courses offered by local colleges. With personal responsibilities already in place, attending schools that are further away from home is not always an option. Distance education makes it possible to take almost any course from any higher education institution.
Enhanced Resources: Distance learning not only offers the advantage of broadening the range of courses and programs available at your convenience, but it also provides greater opportunities for feedback and interaction with instructors and fellow students. Because email and forums are integral to distance learning, interactions can be conducted as needed – not limited to class or campus time or running phone tags and voice mails.
Disadvantages of Distance Education
time limit: Like any course, it also has deadlines to meet. Because you’re not attending a scheduled class, deadlines may slip away from you. This can be a disadvantage of distance learning if you are not good at time management.
Reading: Since you’ll be attending class at home, it can be difficult to find enough uninterrupted online time. Instructors provide a curriculum so that you are able to build a schedule around the course schedule. You may need to make arrangements with a caregiver or spouse to watch the children, as well as remember to turn off the TV and phone.
Testing: To keep you honest, test proctoring or online timekeeping may be required, especially for final exams. Your instructor will arrange with local teachers or provide you with timed online tests so you don’t have to rely on using your textbook to pass. If you live near a school, you may have to take the test at a testing center. You’ll need to make sure you spend the same amount of time studying as you would learning the traditional way, but there may be more distractions.
interaction: Discussion board posts and answers are usually included in course requirements. Sometimes, you may want to interact with a forum discussion during a set time so that you can interact with your instructor in real time. Again, you need to be able to manage your time in order to be available without interruption.
learning style: Another disadvantage of distance learning is that the curriculum may not include instruction for the auditory or visual learner. If it includes lectures and supplemental videos, it may work for your learning style. Be sure to check the instructor’s teaching style before deciding on a course. Courses may be offered by more than one instructor – each with different teaching styles.
successful distance learning
To be successful as a distance learner, you must consider the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning. For your first time as a distance learner, enroll in just one course that you enjoy and see how it goes.
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