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Are Distance Learning Courses Really the Best Option?

By Jody Morse, published Aug 31, 2007
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With the increase of parents who are interested in going back to school and children who now need to work full-time in order to pay for their education, Distance Learning courses are becoming a very popular option. The idea of taking online courses sounds wonderful to most people, as you can more or less do class work on your own time without having to attend class in a traditional classroom. Although Distance Learning courses do offer the convenience that many of us need, there are also some major disadvantages associated with taking classes online.

Navigating Distance Learning Courses Can Be Difficult

Depending on how the professor has organized the information for you on a Distance Learning course, you may find that it isn't very easy to navigate. This is especially true if you are not very familiar with the way that websites work or the internet in general. It is a good idea to find out beforehand if the Distance Learning school that you are planning to enroll in can help you explain how to navigate the system if you do not fully understand it on your own.

Your Learning Style Needs Might Not Be Met Through Distance Learning

People who have certain learning styles might not be able to succeed with Distance Learning courses. If you are a visual learner, the best way for you to learn is to see information presented to you through charts and graphs. If you are an auditory learner, the best way for you to learn is through listening to your professor lecture. Distance Learning courses may not always be able to cater to your learning style needs. How well you are able to cope in an online class according to your learning style will mainly depend upon your professor. Some Distance Learning teachers may try to encourage you to listen to audio clips on the computer or look at graphs that they have provided to you through links.

Distance Learning Courses May Not Provide Much Needed Interaction

Are Distance Learning Courses Really the Best Option?

Though convenient, Distance Learning courses may offer many disadvantages.

Credit: www.1st-distance-learning-mba.com

Copyright: www.1st-distance-learning-mba.com

Comments
Comments 1 - 12 of 12
 
 
To date I have taken 7 online courses and one open entry/open exit class and loved them all. My classes had forum boards we had to post on etc so there was a lot of interaction from the other students. On the flip side hubby took one online class and HATED it. We have different learning styles so like you said they are not for everyone. Great article!

Posted on 09/07/2007 at 10:09:00 AM

 
Great article. I like some distance learning courses, but like you said, it's best not to choose ones that specifically say "distance learning", but ones from local colleges that are online instead. Sometimes they're good, but not always. :-)

Posted on 09/03/2007 at 8:09:00 PM

 
Thanks for the comments, once again. They usually say that you should choose an online school that doesn't say "Distance Learning" or "Online" in the name, but rather a university or comm. college in your area. This way, employers will probably not notice it so much.

Posted on 09/02/2007 at 7:09:00 PM

 
I've thought it about it, too, and wondered how employers feel about DL.

Posted on 09/02/2007 at 5:09:00 PM

 
Good article. I've thought about taking a distance learning class.

Posted on 09/01/2007 at 9:09:00 PM

 
I've been thinking about getting my MS through distance learning. However, I'm concerned I want be able to understand or complete the projects that are required. Very good article.

Posted on 09/01/2007 at 5:09:00 PM

 
No, I really wouldn't recommend them if you actually want to learn!

Posted on 08/31/2007 at 10:08:00 PM

 
I've taken one or two DL courses. I didn't feel they were worth the money. Great article, though!

Posted on 08/31/2007 at 10:08:00 PM

 
Thanks for the comments. I think that that it depends on the class, Zac. I agree with you, Kristina, it really does depend on a lot on the professor's teaching style.

Posted on 08/31/2007 at 10:08:00 PM

 
You make great points. I took a few online courses at the end of my college career trying to fit in more classes with less commuting time. Some of the professors didn't seem to really understand the point of the online class. I had one class where we still were required to show up at the school (at a date and time determined by the teacher and right in the middle of the workday!) for the midterm and final exam. I think a lot of it depends not only on the student's learning style, but the professor's teaching style. Some are just not suited to teaching online.

Posted on 08/31/2007 at 3:08:00 PM

 
Great topic, Jody. I can see your point about the downfalls of distance learning. If I could do it all over again, I would still choose the traditional route. Sophie

Posted on 08/31/2007 at 10:08:00 AM

 
my friends and i found online courses to be easier to pass. we just didn't learn much from them is all.

Posted on 08/31/2007 at 10:08:00 AM

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