Distance Education
The conventional model of higher education used to involve students travelling to the same old college campus to their professors and educators. However, with advancing technology and with the arrival of CD-ROMs, videotapes, internet and closed-circuit television, students can receive relevant classroom information without the need of leaving their home. This is what universities and colleges call distance education. Distance education uses a combination of objective examinations, audiovisual lectures and planned meetings along with human instructors.
A type of distance learning known as correspondence schooling is available since decades. However, the programs have generally been limited. Also, the accreditation of such programs is often questioned. Students taking such distance education courses would often receive a packet of worksheets, objective tests and study materials as well. A representative of the correspondence school will regularly grade the mailed-in tests and finally give a certificate of completion. In such courses, the interactivity between an instructor and the student is very little. Moreover, the practical lab work is almost impossible.
Flexible learning with distance education:
With some trial and error, the traditional colleges and universities have greatly improved the process of distance education. Earlier attempts at distance education involved a series of videotaped lectures and a unique final examination. The low test scores often revealed requirement for more interactivity between the campus-based instructors and off-campus students.
Most modern distance education courses feature real-time lectures with regularly scheduled online exercises and remote communication. The professors are generally encouraged to treat the emailed questions with same respect like the traditional classroom. Distance education programs are usually aimed at returning students who cannot support themselves fiscally and cannot afford to commute at the same time. Majority of class lectures are on CD-ROM or videotapes, allowing students choose the best time from their daily schedules to study. So, if you want to learn and study flexibly, distance education is the best option.
