Distance Education – a new age approach towards education

Distance education has become the most powerful learning tool in the recent past. It is becoming the preferred choice of mode of study all over the world. This mode education does not need a traditional classroom setup as the courses so offered are completely online or through correspondence. This helps the working individuals to still learn while continuing their job. Simply put distance learning or distance education is a term that is used to describe the education system wherein the learning happens at an off-campus location.

Most often the debated question over the distance education learning program is the quality and the value of this kind of program when compared to the traditional classroom learning program. This question can be answered only the student as it all depends on the student to extract the maximum out of the available resources. He can use his resources and gather more knowledge and information or he can just learn what is given in the material provided so. In fact with correct amount of logical thinking the learning happening in this kind of distance program fetches the individual high amount of intelligence quotient.

Distance learning has taken many forms from its time of inception. Earlier students received their education through correspondence courses but now because of the latest technology and explosion of internet the education is taken in many other forms such as audio based courses, video based courses, internet based courses etc. These modes do have the disadvantage of non-existent two way communication between the instructor and the student but the alternative is by using the forums, chat boxes and emails to rectify their doubts. Live streaming with large scale interactive participation has become possible with the recent technologies.

In the institution’s point of view the distance learning program offered by them has a wide reach and has audience from all around the world if the course is an online course. From a student this is more advantageous as this does not include attending mandatory lectures. The student can take up the course any time he/she wants to, the course they are completely interested in.

Of course the distance education has its own short comings and is still facing the criticism. This kind of learning may not suit all kinds of students as they might not be comfortable with the resources being provided for a course. There is also some kind of training required for participating in this kind of programs which may not be there with all the students. The students also may participate in malpractice etc.

When it comes to the choice of opting to a distance education program is purely based on the nature of the student. For institutions it is always good to provide both traditional and distance courses to attract number of students.

So if you looking to boost your career at your own comfortable pace and timings distance education combined with e-learning should be your choice.