Trends In Education: Distance Learning

There is an old saying: Time moves on. That is certainly true in the world of education. In the past, higher education was strictly an option for the wealthy and privileged. Beginning in the last century, higher education became a reality for the common person. But the pace of change has not slackened up one bit!

The pundits debate what direction that higher education may take, but one thing is certain: technology has revolutionized how educational programs are being delivered. In particular, the personal computer, harnessing the power of the Internet, has helped to 'shrink' our planet. What this 'shrinking' means is that distance is much less of a factor in our life activities. And the importance of distance has shrunk as well in education - ushering in the era of 'Distance Learning.'

Simply put, distance learning involves participation in classes and academic coursework when one lives and works in a location that is far removed from the school which is offering the course in which you are enrolled. Computer technology makes all of this possible - and the Internet serves as the 'channel' of communication and information exchange.

For those of us observing the landscape in the U.S., of course, this has a particular relevance, because of the aging of our population. And an older population means older students - students who have already taken on significant life responsibilities (job and family). Distance learning is the best - and probably only - option for them.

Here's our take on the situation: as more and more schools start distance learning programs, more and more adults will take advantage of them and enroll. And when these students graduate, they will bring their up-to-date skill sets into the workplace. As a result, business will greatly benefit. Overall, we can see the American worker becoming more and more efficient. Our workforce will then be positioned to keep - and retain - better paying jobs, as we compete in the global marketplace.

What happens when you enroll in a distance learning program? Well, imagine a world where your entire academic program of study is handled via the Internet, using your PC at home. You will have to complete some assignments offline, of course (primarily the reading of required texts), but typically your class assignments and course (instructor) lectures will take place in an online environment. You will sign in to 'virtual classrooms' - a kind of chat room - to hear (and see!) your instructor. Communications not handled in-class will be taken care of through e-mails.

One of the great things about most distance learning programs is their approach to testing (exams). It is very difficult to replicate traditional examinations online. That is because those kinds of tests basically ask the student to repeat memorized information on paper. Since the student is offline, it is impossible to keep them from looking at their books and notes - so many schools offering distance learning programs have taken a different approach: completion of projects and research that force the student to take the information that they should have mastered, and use that in some way to complete the assignment.

This means that distance learning programs put a premium on 'learning by doing' - not simply spitting out facts that have been memorized. And does this not more accurately mirror the kinds of responsibilities one has in the real world? Graduates of distance learning programs are in fact better prepared to 'hit the ground running' and be productive in their job from the first day of employment.

Article Source: http://www.articlemonk.com

About the author: John Chaplin Writes about Online Education and University of Phoenix. Learn more about obtaining online college degrees at www.university-phoenix.com
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