Characteristics of Distance Learning Degree Programs

Distance learning degrees are attained when individuals are instructed, trained and taught in unconventional setups unlike the traditional classroom. Learning can take place from virtually anywhere and apart from the physical differences, everything else is very much similar to normal learning. It may appear as a modern way of teaching and learning, but distance learning is quite an old practice. As early as the 1700s, shorthand was being taught via mail! The process involved the use of postal services, which continued to be the only mode of distant learning up until around 1965 when radio and television were incorporated. Time and distance has always been the main characteristic of distance learning, coming in between the learner and the teacher. However today, time is becoming less and less of an issue in distant learning thanks to advancements in both technology and infrastructure. The distance on the other hand has continued to increase thanks to globalization and as such, people in Africa for instance can get distance learning degrees from universities in the United State without ever having to go there. Distance teaching and learning programs might vary from institution to institution and from country to country, but the following characteristics are common in almost all of them.

Computers and the Internet:

Advancements in computers and the integration of the Internet are both credited in making distance education easy to access, faster and more involving. Almost every institution that offers online degree courses today requires their students to have at least access to a computer connected to the Internet. The speed at which instruction is dispersed to students has been greatly improved from the earlier modes of using the postal service.

Synchronous learning:

This is whereby all the students of a particular course are simultaneously ‘present’ at the same time during a lesson. The early methods of distance learning through radio and television broadcasts were one of such instances where all the students were all listening or watching the lessons at the same time. Today, technology has advanced greatly such that video and web conferencing are now available and have made it possible to have the synchronous learning in virtual classrooms or virtual worlds. This has helped students interact with others and the tutors follow up on individual student’s progress.

Asynchronous learning:

Asynchronous learning is the opposite of synchronous learning and it is whereby the students get course materials at their own time and schedule. Higher education degree programs such as the online business degree are mainly undertaken by people who are already working and need to further their skill levels. Such people find the convenience of accessing course materials and instructions at their own schedule preferable since that gives them more flexibility within their work duties and even family obligations. Postal correspondence, which is also the oldest form of distant learning, is a good example of asynchronous learning since the mails took different time spans to reach different students. Other more modern forms include e-mail, fax, voicemail, message boards, video and audio recordings among others.

Popularity:

Perhaps one of the most apparent characteristics is that popularity of distance education today is well spread globally. The Internet has globalized the world and people virtually anywhere on earth can obtain an online degree from the higher learning institution of their choice from wherever. Almost all higher learning institutions today offer distant learning programs and the demand for such keeps on growing. It is not even surprising to see people living close to such institutions opt for it. The convenience and ease of access of such programs factors a lot in their choice. Among the popular courses being undertaken in this form of learning include online management courses, IT certification and the online business degree.

Cost effectiveness:

With relation to the equivalent total cost of undertaking the same course on-campus, distance education does happen to be cost effective. The cost effectiveness is not more evident in the actual cost of tuition as it is in other miscellaneous costs that accompany on-campus education. Things like accommodation, transport and similar expenditures make the on-campus education much more costly than distance education. Also, when studying for an online degree at one’s own convenience, a person is able to work and fulfill other duties, which would have otherwise had to be abandoned or assigned to others. Such a resort would have ultimately added to the cost of the academic pursuit albeit being an indirect expense.

Distance education programs have become part and parcel of modern world educational programs and distance learning degrees are now widely recognized and accepted in all sectors of the society. Anyone looking to further their education can feel free to employ distance education as an option considering the above mentioned characteristics. This could well be the only way for such persons to obtain a degree they have always wanted or needed, such as the online business degree.