Benefits Of Distance Education

To obtain answers to the concerns previously listed, an 8 week study of students in an online class was conducted. This study consisted of monitoring online communication and classroom activity among students with different backgrounds with geographical location and age being two of the main contributing factors.

In today’s society, so many people are continuing their education beyond high school. We realize that in order to make a decent living, a degree is most likely a requirement. In some cases even a bachelor’s degree is not enough to qualify for many positions. Nevertheless, thanks to technology, we now have the option to learn online or in a traditional classroom setting. There are very few differences between the two, and students need to understand that as much time and energy will need to be devoted to the online courses as on a campus. “A 2010 meta-analysis and review of online-learning studies concluded that online learning was as good as or slightly more effective than traditional face-to-face instruction” (Mendenhall, 2011).

The Internet has dramatically changed the world today as much as the Industrial Revolution changed the world two centuries ago. It revolutionized many fields such as education. Many educational institutions offer online courses providing time, distance, and place advantages for learners who work full time or live miles away from their schools. Rachel Farhi, an editor of The Daily Cougar, in her article “Online education innovators should be wary,” states that distance learning classes give students from disadvantaged areas opportunities to learn knowledge through reducing the cost. On the other hand, online courses bring some disadvantages, such as no social interaction, academic dishonesty, and procrastination. David Smith, an editor of The Daily Nebraskan, in his article “Reliance on online materials hinders learning potential for students,” claims that web-based learning cannot be a substitute for on-campus classes because e-learning decreases students’ learning pressure and motivation. Once students have less pressure to study, their academic performance may be negatively influenced. It is more likely that online education decreases students’ learning effectiveness and quality, even though it provides convenience and cost efficiency for them. After reading the two articles, I do not think that online education is as good as traditional education. Smith is absolutely right that online education is not as effective as regular classroom

Many students are absent numerous days throughout the school year due to illness, vacations, bad weather, or other complications. Consequently, these students get left behind in class. Perhaps a big test was missed, or an important lecture or activity, these problems can easily be solved. Some schools have already taken the step to eliminate these problems by offering distance learning; a way to attend classes from home even if the student is not able to attend class physically. Offering these online classes would allow students the ability to attend classes even if they are home sick, on vacation, or if the weather is bad and school is cancelled. Setting up distance learning in a school could improve grades and learning opportunities throughout the

Students who are prone to procrastination will have a difficult time adjusting to online classes. Hours of work are necessary to get through all of the materials, including course lectures, educational videos, assignments, projects, assigned textbook reading and discussions. For students who are getting an online degree, especially an online master’s degree, require a greater amount of work.

However, advocates of classroom learning believe the online method isolates the students from one another as well as their professor minimizing the overall value of taking the course. They also claim that students learn better when working together with their instructor and their fellow classmates. Students learn better when they are given the opportunity to ask questions, join in class discussions, and they move the process of learning forward through their participation. Face-to-face advocates firmly believe that this kind of interaction is not possible over the Internet; and for many types of education, e-learning will never meet the potential of live human interaction in the classroom. An article in the New York Times titled, “Second Thoughts on Online Education,” backs up the points made above. A recent research published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, comes to the conclusion; “A rush to online education

Non-traditional students are finding it easier and easier to maintain a job, a family, and pursuing a college career at the same time. This is possible because more and more non-traditional students are receiving an education using distance learning, as opposed to traditional, in-the-classroom teaching. Distance learning is basically taking college level, credit-bearing courses via the Internet. One of the most obvious advantages of distance learning is that it puts the classroom in your home, office, or wherever you can find a computer and log on to the Internet. However, there is much controversy regarding the quality of the courses being offered on the Internet versus the quality of

Students are required to learn massive amounts of course material. It is mandatory to learn at the instructor’s pace. Online courses give flexibility while scheduling to learn this material. Students are overwhelmed with homework throughout the duration of each class. Some have up to four classes of homework due weekly. It can be difficult for many to absorb all the material while scheduling work and home life. Trying to arrange the balance of each can be tiring for the body and mind. When taking online classes, there is an advantage to have the capability to learn the subject when the brain and body are ready to handle it. This flexibility can give the benefit of the full focus on schoolwork. On-campus classes give the benefit of help on the spot when needed, but students that take a

Compared to classroom learning, the interaction occurring at online courses is more international. Learners can develop online conversations on forums and interview other students around the world by using web-conferencing technology (Kruger-Ross and Waters, 2013:182). However, it is reported that students prefer face to face contact directly with the tutor who was seen as the focal point of learning, a channel through all interaction that connects ideas, builds understanding, provides feedback and gives summary immediately (Sweeney et al, 2007:316). Additionally, establishing social relations may need classroom environment (Paechter & Maier, 2010:295). Classroom teaching and learning is a complex, multilayered, and social experience, which develops friendship, connection and satisfaction among students. Social community is considered to be relatively poorly experienced in online learning due to learners’ disconnection and could probably cause isolation (Baturay & Bay, 2010:44).

Some of parents question about distance-learning. They think distance-learning is useless because it does not have supervisors like teachers. Students may be distracted by the relaxing environment at home and do not finish their homework on time. At the same time, some teachers also point out that distance-learning is not as efficient as classroom because it cannot have a discussion and participation with peers and teachers. Without other students, they may lose the passion about study. What is more, Communication with others also an important lesson to students. By contrast, other students and office workers believe that distance-learning can also be flexible for them. They can learn wherever

Learning is more than just receiving information. Traditionally learning was to be in campus, where students would interact with one a another, there were no other ways for learners to get educated beside going to the classroom and listening to the instructor. Nowadays the Internet has brought different ways for people to receive information, such as getting education and degrees online. A few years ago online education was never thinkable, and yet it has become to reality and it is widely expanding with popularity. Online education is a type of educational instruction that delivers learning to individuals to their own homes, and it is getting very popular among nontraditional student and others. Individuals prefer online education

Distance education has can be a great as well as bad tool to use in the educational system. There are many pros and cons to both side of the spectrum. In today’s world this is the constant struggle school, education faculties, along with any type of faculties that uses technology. They don’t wither or not to make the transition into technology or to stay in the old ways. One can’t blame them either there are many things that can contribute to a person wanting to reframe transition to newer technology. These disadvantages consist of lack funds, lack of focus, social problems, accessibility, and several other problems. In contrast what it has in disadvantages it makes up for in advantages. Distance learning can provide individuals along with massive corporation with great advantages. The advantages consist of factors such as flexibility, advancing technology skills, accessibility to thoughts who may have a tough time making it to class, eliminates some anxiety, better time efficiency, and allows one to learn at their own pace. In order to asses wither, or not distance learning is positive or negative one need to have an understanding what exactly distance is.

A student not only learns content in traditional classrooms, but they as well learn many other skills due to the social interaction they have with each other. They learn skills that only help them in that specific class, but they learn skill that will help them through their life. Skill such as teamwork, and who to be a leader and a follower. This portion of the course is somewhat always neglected in distance education courses. Being in an isolated environment without any face to face interaction may deplete a student’s ability to socially interact with their peers and professors. This can even be unhealthy in some cases. That being said distance education programs have been continually trying to close the gap of social interaction. Distance education has online communities that try to conduct a social event to provide the social interaction of traditional classroom courses. The social interaction portion of Traditional classroom course appeals more to the younger crowd of student due to them wanting the college experience. The want to be able to make friends and attend social events. Older adults tend not to care as much and want to save time by participating in distance education. It really depends on one preference as to when they decide to participate in distance education or traditional classroom courses.

Distance education is a concept that is commonly confused with online learning. Defined as “taking a course where students and instructor are separated from each other by distance,” distance education involves individuals completing coursework in the comfort of their very own home (Fender 1). To interact and deliver instruction to students, many of these programs relied on mail, telephone, and television in the past but now typically use e-mail and the Internet. Students must then complete the set tasks or assignments according to the course schedule. It is apparent that in taking a correspondence course,

Education is an important part of people’s lives; it will either make them or break them in the future depending on the careers they choose. Education is greatly diverse today in comparison to the 1950s because of advancements in teaching and other great inventions that provide easier techniques of teaching. One major issue that has been raised is distant learning courses and online education.