Today, there are many avenues open to those
who wish to continue their education. However, nearly all require
some break in one’s career in order to attend school full time.
Part time education, that is, attending school at night or for one
weekend a month, tends to drag the process out over time and puts
the completion of a degree program out of reach of many people.
Additionally, such programs require a fixed time commitment which
can also impact negatively on one’s career and family time.
Of the many approaches to teaching and learning, however, perhaps
the most flexible and accommodating is that called distance learning.
Distance learning is an educational method which allows the student
the flexibility to study at his or her own pace to achieve the academic
goals which are so necessary in today’s world. The time required
to study may be set aside at the student’s convenience with
due regard to all of life’s other requirements. Additionally,
the student may enroll in distance learning courses from virtually
any place in the world, while continuing to pursue their chosen
career. In fact, in many cases, courses taken as part of a degree
program may be helpful in the student’s current profession.
Tutorial assistance may be available via regular air mail, telephone
, facsimile machine, teleconferencing and over the Internet.
Good distance learning programs are characterised by the inclusion
of a subject evaluation tool with every subject. This precludes
the requirement for a student to travel away from home to take a
test. Another characteristic of a good distance learning program
is the equivalency of the distance learning student will study the
same subject materials as those students taking the course with
the same course offered on the home campus. This means that the
distance learning student will study the same subject materials
as those students taking the course on the home campus. The resultant
diploma or degree should also be the same whether distance learning
or on campus study is employed. The individuality of the Professor/student
relationship is another characteristic of a good distance learning
program. Even though the same Professor may be assigned to several
distance students, the nature of distance learning should result
in essentially a one on one relationship between the Professor and
the student.
In the final analysis, a good distance learning program has a place
not only for the individual student but also the corporation or
business that wants to work in partnership with their employees
for the employees’ educational benefit and professional development.
This kind of partnership can only positively benefit the business
growth of the organisation. Sponsoring distance learning programs
for their employees earns employee loyalty as well as giving the
business the advantage of retaining career minded people while contributing
to their personal and professional growth through education.
Author: Frank Tryon, Vice President, Preston University
This article first appeared in Studying Abroad magazine
