Distance Education – Is It For You?
Definition and Brief History
Distance Education refers to the mode of education called Distance Learning. It is the method of education whereby students are not physically present in a traditional classroom setting. The first distance education course using this method of teaching and learning was introduced in the 1940’sby Sir Isaac Pitman, an English professor who developed the first form of shorthand writing. He corresponded by mail with his students in shorthand while his students mailed back their transcriptions for correction. However, the first university to offer a distance education program in its curriculum was the University of London in 1858. The method has since been adapted by various universities and colleges around the world, offering degree programs thru various means of correspondence with the advancement of technology.
Who will benefit?
Although Distance Education programs are technically open to anyone who chooses to enroll in one, those who will particularly benefit from such a method of learning are the following: 1. People with illnesses or disability, 2. Students with behavioral disorders, 3. Graduate students who face time constraints.
Students with illnesses or physical disabilities are normally forced to drop out of school due to health risks. But those who are very eager to continue their education may pursue their courses through distance education without fear of compromising their health. They can study at their own pace and time, sometimes with the help of a tutor to guide them occasionally. This is very ideal for them especially with the growing scope of virtual technology; they can now “attend” classes with the help of robots. They are able to experience a general feel of a classroom setting without actually being there.
In other cases, there are students who face challenges in school and are no longer allowed access to general education institutions due to behavioral disorders. Distance education serves as a way to provide them with continuous learning and eventually to integrate them back into the community.
Graduate students are another group who stand to benefit most from distance education courses. Since most are probably pursuing their chosen fields of profession, time and distance provide challenges for them to pursue higher education.
How Distance Education Works
In the traditional classroom setting, teacher and students are physically present and have interaction. In Distance Education, this setup is absent. In previous times, learning materials were sent to the student through the mail. The student then proceeds to reading and understanding the said materials, which may include questionnaires to sum up the lessons. This will be mailed back to the program for assessment and evaluation.
Currently, with the advent of advanced technology, material can now be coursed through the internet. A Professor posts lessons for review and discussion and may even set a time for online mentoring, thru video chats. Then the students are asked to accomplish assignments for submission thru email. The professor then checks them and gives the students feedback on their work. This may be the case for short term courses as well as long term ones, depending on the preference of the student. As such, the success of distance education is largely dependent on how the teacher and student together take advantage of the technology available for learning.
Distance Education refers to the mode of education called Distance Learning. It is the method of education whereby students are not physically present in a traditional classroom setting. The first distance education course using this method of teaching and learning was introduced in the 1940’sby Sir Isaac Pitman, an English professor who developed the first form of shorthand writing. He corresponded by mail with his students in shorthand while his students mailed back their transcriptions for correction. However, the first university to offer a distance education program in its curriculum was the University of London in 1858. The method has since been adapted by various universities and colleges around the world, offering degree programs thru various means of correspondence with the advancement of technology.
Who will benefit?
Although Distance Education programs are technically open to anyone who chooses to enroll in one, those who will particularly benefit from such a method of learning are the following: 1. People with illnesses or disability, 2. Students with behavioral disorders, 3. Graduate students who face time constraints.
Students with illnesses or physical disabilities are normally forced to drop out of school due to health risks. But those who are very eager to continue their education may pursue their courses through distance education without fear of compromising their health. They can study at their own pace and time, sometimes with the help of a tutor to guide them occasionally. This is very ideal for them especially with the growing scope of virtual technology; they can now “attend” classes with the help of robots. They are able to experience a general feel of a classroom setting without actually being there.
In other cases, there are students who face challenges in school and are no longer allowed access to general education institutions due to behavioral disorders. Distance education serves as a way to provide them with continuous learning and eventually to integrate them back into the community.
Graduate students are another group who stand to benefit most from distance education courses. Since most are probably pursuing their chosen fields of profession, time and distance provide challenges for them to pursue higher education.
How Distance Education Works
In the traditional classroom setting, teacher and students are physically present and have interaction. In Distance Education, this setup is absent. In previous times, learning materials were sent to the student through the mail. The student then proceeds to reading and understanding the said materials, which may include questionnaires to sum up the lessons. This will be mailed back to the program for assessment and evaluation.
Currently, with the advent of advanced technology, material can now be coursed through the internet. A Professor posts lessons for review and discussion and may even set a time for online mentoring, thru video chats. Then the students are asked to accomplish assignments for submission thru email. The professor then checks them and gives the students feedback on their work. This may be the case for short term courses as well as long term ones, depending on the preference of the student. As such, the success of distance education is largely dependent on how the teacher and student together take advantage of the technology available for learning.
Advertise on APSense
This advertising space is available.
Post Your Ad Here
Post Your Ad Here
Comments