Take advantage of the advent of the internet to badge that degree in any course you desire. Therefore, this article will focus on what distance learning is, the schools that offer distance learning, and the programs you can enroll in. Asides from these, we also provided an overview of online education and all its components. Stay with us on this insightful and interesting read.
What is Distance Learning?
Distance learning otherwise known as distance education is the education of students who are not physically present at a school for the lessons but is done through the internet. Merriam Webster defines distance learning as, “a method of study where teachers and students do not meet in a classroom but use the Internet, e-mail, mail, etc., to have classes.” Distance learning programs can be completed entirely online or through the hybrid education system. Hybrid education is one where students have a number of visits to make to the school before graduation. His thesis defense has to be done at the university campus. Many universities have co-opted the distance learning education system. There are even completely online universities without a physical campus. These schools tend to have more affordable tuition and flexibility for working adults. We will discuss the advantages of distance learning in the later sections of this article. Virtual classes and MOOCs are used for distance learning. In this article, we will use distance learning and online education interchangeably.
Brief History of Distance Learning
The first attempt at distance learning was in 1728 by Caleb Philipps, the Teacher of the new method of Short Hand. Boston Gazette helped him seek students who wanted to learn through weekly mailed lessons. Then, the first distance learning course was provided by Sir Isaac Pitman in the 1840s when he taught shorthand. He mailed texts transcribed into shorthand on postcards and in turn received transcriptions from his students for correction. This set the pace for correspondence schools in the United States. The University of London took the lead as the first university to offer distance learning degrees in 1858. Oxford University founded by Wolsey Hall joined to become the first distance learning college in the UK in 1894. 10 Best Writing Internship Programs For College Students in 2022
What are the Types of Distance Learning?
Online learning has many pedagogies. Here are the established modes.
Video conferencing: This is a common way for teachers to interact directly with students. It is usually a live lesson for a student or multiple students connect to the teacher.Synchronous learning: This happens when all the students learn together at the same time and often at the same place but the instructor is at another location. It uses video or teleconferencing to connect the teacher and learners digitally.Asynchronous learning: For the asynchronous learning, student’s self-study to complete assignments. Basically, in this type of distance learning, students are given learning tasks with deadlines instead of live online lessons, students are given learning tasks with deadlines.Open-schedule: This is an asynchronous learning type with an added layer of flexibility. Thereare nodeadlines for the online courses. It is ideal for learners with other demands on their time, such as professionals or stay-at-home parents.Fixed-time online courses: Students have to visit a specific virtual location at a set time. This allows students from anywhere in the world to connect, learn and interact online.Computer-based distance education: This is the type of distance learning most common to many institutions. Students take their lessons on a computer at a fixed time.Hybrid learning: It is a blended learning system where some students study the same lessons at real time online while other students are offline.
How Does Distance Learning Work?
There are different types of distance learning available as we have mentioned earlier. Regardless, instructors send all information to students over the internet. This information may come in the form of:
Online textbooksScreen-recorded videos using tools like Snagit and CamtasiaVoice-over slideshow presentationsScheduled chats between students and the instructor
An online education has emphasis on student-friendly course structures and interfaces.
Is My Distance Learning Degrees Valued as a Regular Degree?
This has been the greatest hindrance to students studying online. Many students feel that their distance learning programs are of less value to the regular university degree, but this isn’t so. Once your distance program is accredited, your degree is valued the same as the one obtained on the campus. Therefore, be careful to attend an accredited online course since many online programs out there are not accredited. Also, before choosing a program, it’s important that you assess the school’s reputation and the reputation of your chosen course. If possible, ask employers what they think of your selection and find some current students or alumni to give you an insider’s perspective on the course. Similarly, check whether your distance-learning provider is accredited by national bodies, such as the United States Department of Education (USDE) or the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Lastly, 77% of academic leaders rate online education as equal or superior. And 69% of chief academic officers agree. 50 Free Online Education Courses With Certificates 2022
Advantages of Distance Learning
Live instructions are similar to regular lessons. It offers a face-to-face interaction between teachers and students although that is through a screen. We have written out a number of advantages of distance learning over remote learning. Here they are:
#1 Flexibility
One of the top benefits of distance learning is the flexibility it offers. Typically, students can choose when, where, and how to learn and even select the pace of studies. Students who want to take part in live lessons, have to be part of the online conference options. Others who have jobs and other responsibilities can choose a suitable schedule.
#2 Ease of Access
The distance learning/education structure comes in handy for students who would otherwise not have access to educational facilities. Distance education offers students the opportunity to improve themselves in their immediate environment. You can access world-class universities and education that wouldn’t have admitted you on norms. You can get a recognized degree, and certificate from top universities in the world.
#3 Less Tuition
Distance education has reduced the cost of education. Online education removes the infrastructure expenses like room and board, feeding, etc. In addition, the tuition for online education is less than the tuition for in-state and out-of-state students. For example, at Purdue University, the in-state total tuition is around $22,782 while the international student’s tuition is $45,594. Compare this with UK’s Open University’s tuition. Regardless of the program type (full or part-time), the tuition for online programs is around $8,540 for three years. You can see the difference in tuition range.
What are the disadvantages of distance learning?
The benefits of distance learning are clear, but there are some warnings when it comes to this learning approach, too. Let’s consider some of the disadvantages. First, students face a higher risk of online distraction. Without face-to-face meetings, students can lose track of deadlines and motivation. Students who work well on their own may easily surmount these obstacles. Students who have trouble prioritizing may stumble. However, it will teach them organizational and scheduling skills. Distance learning comes with hidden student costs, too. These expenses include:
Gaining access to a reliable computerHaving an internet connectionBuying a web camera (in some instances)Computer maintenanceUtilities (e.g., electricity for internet services)
For students who do not have these resources, distance learning can put them at a distinct disadvantage. A slow internet connection will hamper a student’s ability to participate online. They may lack the bandwidth to watch videos or teleconference.
What Should I Look for in a Distance Learning System?
There are certain features students and educators alike should look out for in a distance learning system to get the most out of it. Read Also: Free Online Courses With Certificates In Spain 2022
#1 Ease of Use
Simplicity is the key. Adopt any online education system that is user-friendly for everyone. There should be a seamless interface that supports:
Digital white-boarding and annotation
Media creation and sharingScreen recording with audioDirect student-to-teacher communicationMultiple -devices
#2 Accreditation
Accreditation of the online education channel and your course/program of study by the relevant regulatory bodies is non-negotiable. It authenticates your degree.
#3 Does the Online Degree Programs Accept Transferred Credits?
The truth is that many of us have done a few low-cost online courses. These online courses can be added to your credits for the degree as transferred credit. There are online colleges that allow for this and make it much easier, cheaper, and faster for their students to graduate.
#4 Cost of the degree
The cost of the online education will determine if you’ll choose it above the campus-based counterpart. However, from our analysis above, we can see assert that the cost of online education is less than the campus degree.
#5 Are there adequate academic, technical and career support for online students?
Most online degree programs aren’t as structured as regular degree programs. Make sure there is adequate support for online students before enrolling.
#6 Schedule
The distance learning system is designed to be flexible. Therefore, consider the course schedule and content should be flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. Ascertain the distance education type- is it a synchronous or asynchronous course? Are there deadlines or not? How long do you have to complete the entire course? And does the course’s schedule match yours?
Best Distance Learning Schools and Universities for Online Degrees
Remember that the credibility of the online school you wish to study in matters a lot. As a result, we advise you to enroll in distance learning schools that are internationally recognized, accredited and offer a number of online programs. The criteria we choose these schools with are the QS World ranking that offers 10 or more Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees taught fully online. We also added the number of online programs so that students can ascertain the versatility of the course they wish to study. The Best universities offering online degrees are:
University College London: UCL has 20 fully online programs that include teaching, and online degrees.Columbia University. Columbia University has 12 fully online programs including Business degrees. University of Edinburgh: This University has 66 fully online programs including online Medicine degrees, Law degrees, Social Sciences degrees. Johns Hopkins University: John Hopkins has 88 fully online programs.The University of Manchester: There are 32 fully online programs including Medicine degrees, Business degrees, etc. Northwestern University: At Northwest, there are 12 fully online programs.King’s College London: Kings has 25 fully online programs that include Medicine degrees, Social Sciences degrees, Law degrees, and more. University of California, Los Angeles: Has 10 fully online programs including Engineering degrees. University of Sydney: 28 fully online programs.Monash University: Monash has 33 fully online programs including Medicine and Teaching degrees.The University of Texas at Austin: There are 10 fully online programs that include Engineering degrees, Computer Science degrees, and more.
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Are there Universities that Offer Free Online Courses?
Yes, there are. In this session, we’ll list the top 9 universities that offer free online courses. These universities are renowned and you can enroll in these free courses. The universities that offer free online courses are:
Harvard UniversityUniversity of California, IrvineGeorgia Institute of TechnologyEcole PolytechniqueMichigan state universityCalifornia Institute of the ArtsHong Kong University of science and TechnologyUniversity College LondonMassachusetts Institute of Technology
What are the top Programs for Distance Learning?
After our research, we found out that students who enroll to study online prefer to enroll for the following courses.
Teaching Programs that might involve childhood, primary, and secondary teaching.Professional Counselling CoursesInformation TechnologyDigital MarketingPhotography and Creative ArtsPsychology. …Communication and Creative WritingCriminology and Criminal JusticeLawMedical related programs
Best Online Learning Platforms in 2022
These are the best platforms for online education in 2022. They are:
UdemySkillshare: Best for Creative FieldsMasterClass.Coursera: Best for College ClassesEdX.Udacity: Best for Tech.Pluralsight: Best for Data Learning
Conclusion
Distance learning otherwise known as distance education is learning that is the education of students who are not physically present at a school for the lessons but is done through the internet. The internet has provided an avenue for students all over the world to study at renowned universities of their choice. Asides from studying at universities, they also have the opportunity to undertake short courses that boost their professional careers. Hence, this article. World Scholarship Forum has provided this article that explains what distance learning is, its attributes, the schools you can attend for the best online education, and schools that offer free online courses. We hope you enroll today and get a standard education at a lesser cost and at your convenience.
References
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