Distance Education – Expanding Higher Education
Online courses are a revolutionary way of providing education.
Even traditional institutions are increasingly incorporating distance learning methods, using web based software tools as part of their programs.
What do the online education institutions offer?
They offer a wide variety of online courses, such as virtual real-time lectures, online assignments, archived video footage, asynchronous learning, synchronous instruction, virtual classes, hangouts, online presentations, electronic academic material, project-based learning, use of multimedia as part of classrooms and more.
All these emerging trends are increasingly becoming part of higher education.
Can it replace traditional education?
Since distance learning has emerged as a new learning option, many institutions consider utilizing online learning tools and virtual means as part of their academic program.
In the future, there is little doubt that distance education will become a standard part of our lives. However, because new technologies still confuse many people, lecturers and students hesitate before opting for this path. Distance learning may fit the needs and work best for one while not work for the other.
Common questions asked:
- Can distance learning replace (part of) frontal traditional study in classes, where a lecturer teaches the entire course in front of the students?
- What is the added value of this education method?
- Is it still confusing and difficult to use for many?
It is important to weigh the pros and cons of distance learning, though the pros already seem to outweigh the cons.
This article lists key benefits and some limitations and drawbacks of distance learning.
The Pros of Distance Learning
1. More Learning Methods Using New Technologies
Distance education brings more educational means. Much more so than in traditional classrooms, it incorporates online multimedia possibilities into instruction to facilitate understanding of the learning material.
Online classes offer many innovative means to communicate the learning material with students. Where in a traditional classroom everything is done with interpersonal exchanges, this is often inconvenient or may be simply impossible for some.
2. More Data and Resources
An online class environment eliminates certain constraints, allowing easy near-instant access to information, resources, libraries, extensive photo and video archives, and personal meetings compressed from hours to minutes, through the power of the internet.
Moreover, not everybody knows how to write perfect class notes. Online courses provide electronic transcripts of every lecture. This is great for anyone who has short attention spans or does not like to write during lectures.
3. Convenience
Distance learning is very convenient; it allows you the autonomous decision on the learning program and its schedule.
Synchronous/asynchronous learning saves time and money by abolishing the need to commute to and from the campus. This gives you plenty free time, allowing you accommodate your studies to suit your full-time professional life better.
4. Flexibility
Asynchronous classes provide extremely flexible schedules. They are a perfect way to study for many people. They allow time to absorb the lessons and respond accordingly. And they make it possible to study when it is most convenient for you.
You are the one who decides on the time of taking the online courses. You also set your own pace and control how fast you want to review the material. You choose when to complete your learning duties and when to have more readings. In some course programs, you can even plan the syllabus and design the set of courses.
5. Accessibility
Another benefit of distance learning is that wherever you have computer access you can learn. Since you are not required to follow a specific classroom/classwork schedule, you are able to plan a flexible timetable of any given online class you take.
Choosing distance education gives you the ability (and flexibility) to study anywhere, and in most cases anytime. You can also make quick decisions during the learning process – how long you want to learn in any given timeframe.
6. Efficiency and Geographic Availability
You effectively use your time. Distance learning actually saves your precious time; you don’t waste any time on travel to class, and there is no downtime before and after courses.
Online education abolishes geographic limitations. Anyone can study anywhere. There is no need to travel abroad anymore. You can simply log on to your chosen institution from the comfort of your room.
7. Availability
Almost every course today can be studied online.
Distance learning is a complementary or alternative option for on-campus learning. Even well-known universities and colleges combine distance learning for some of their traditional campus education programs.
Distance education is a great option for those who aren’t able to leave their jobs and/or family for a traditional education.
8. Cost Effectiveness
A key distance learning advantage for many people is the cost.
In most cases, the prices of online education programs are lower than those of traditional campus colleges or universities.
In addition, other traditional education costs factors are travel time, housing, meals and time spent in the classroom for every course. Distance learning saves you money on each of these factors.
9. Education Quality
High quality traditional institutions are currently more numerous than the equivalent online ones. But there are already a number of online programs which combine revolutionary methods with uncompromising quality. Soon there will be many more.
The Cons of Distance Learning
While distance learning has many advantages, it also has some drawbacks that require your attention. It may sound appealing, but it doesn’t necessarily work for everyone.
This section discusses the main disadvantages of distance education.
1. Confusion – Disorientation
Distance learning is a new technology, and as it is with the introduction of new means, it doesn’t fit people who have technology fears and cannot adopt new technical skills easily.
It requires having technical orientation, such as computer knowledge, working with new software and experience using internet tools. In addition, some people are disoriented by the absence of personal contact.
High-tech environments are not for everyone. Online multi-media may confuse you, unless you are a hardcore cyberspace resident.
2. Lack of Educational Support and Feedback
Most distance learning classes are asynchronous. This may allow time to think before responding, but it also means that you probably get less feedback than you would have in a traditional classroom.
Since it is an online method, asynchronous distance learning doesn’t provide face to face interaction with teachers or other students. It might be that no lecturer is available for answering questions.
In distance learning you have little to no support – you have to work hard to find own resources for completing learning assignments.
If your learning style is to benefit from assistance from instructors (and other students) for discussing and understanding the material studied, then distance learning might not work for you.
3. Self-Discipline
The degree of freedom allowed by online courses may easily turn to your disadvantage if you lack self-discipline.
We all need a certain level of discipline for things we do; when it comes to education, without self-discipline we would not learn.
Many people need an extra push to complete tasks and studies. When you opt for distance learning, you are the master of your domain for good and for bad. You are responsible for your time.
4. Less Human Interaction – Less Socializing
A downside of distance education is that it takes away an important aspect of the learning experience – socializing and interacting with others. If you enjoy meeting new people while learning, don’t go for distance learning.
Some people, whether teachers or students, essentially need the campus atmosphere and the interaction with others to get the right spirit of teaching and studying.
Education is a lot more than just learning. It is also a great opportunity to meet other students. With distance learning, you lack opportunities to interact with others and you need to cope by yourself.
Some people simply cannot focus when they are on their own. Sharing a dormitory room with other motivated students is a great incentive to concentrate and understand. Others simply love the atmosphere of campus classrooms and would never give them up.
5. Lack of Feedback
In distance education, communication is done only via email, message boards, and other online means such as synchronous learning – i.e. virtual classes.
It completely erases the concept of feedback. Although there are online class discussions, it is still not always an easy way to get the right feedback one needs for a corrective learning process.
Lack of feedback can be a significant disadvantage for those students who are motivated by close personal connection, discussion, and most importantly, advice.
Online tutorials definitely do not provide this vital touch and discussions may not be intimate enough to provide the same powerful stimulus.