Are you a good candidate for distant learning / distant education?
Answer the following questions to find out if you distant learning is the right type of education program for you.
- Are you self-motivated?
- Do you have access to a computer?
- Are you comfortable with your skills on the web?
- Are you comfortable with your computer skills?
- Are you comfortable getting or giving information in writing?
- Do you have basic word processing skills?
- Can you locate and visit web sites when provided with a web address (URL)?
- Can you visit links contained in web documents and emails?
- Can you print web documents from your browser?
- Can you send and receive email?
- Can you attach and detach files from your email?
- Can you edit a received message and reply to the sender?
- Can you cut and paste text between messages?
If you answered "Yes" to most of the questions above, it's likely that you are a good candidate for distant education.
How does distant education / distant learning work?
Students log into the distant education provider's site which provides access to a study calendar, assignments, online library and ongoing communication with the instructor and other students.
When the courses begin, the instructor may send introductory information on the week's topic and confirms the assignments. The instructor may also post a short lecture or elaborates on the material and provide discussion questions related to the topic. Throughout the week, students work on reading and assignments on their own, just as they would in a traditional classroom setting. Students use the computer to participate in the class discussion and ask questions and receive feedback. When assignments are due, students send them to their instructor online. Instructors grade them and send them back to students with comments.
Distant learning instructors and faculty are specially trained teaching experts who provide the support, guidance, and personal feedback throughout the courses. Students can generally contact faculty by phone, email, or computer conferencing.
Choosing the best distant learning college and degree program
With the hundreds of distant learning colleges and degree programs now available, how do you safely choose the right one? You DON'T want to end up with a degree that's worth no more than the paper it's written on.
Be cautious of email solicitations to "Earn your degree in 30 days" and other scams. Having a degree from "Neverheardofit University" is a waste of your time and money.
It is in your best interest to earn your degree from a recognized leader in the industry - a distant learning college or university that has a solid reputation and a degree that will be recognized and respected by present and future employers.
Our editors have hand picked some of the very best distant learning colleges and universities in the nation to feature on this site. These top education providers offer a wide variety of degree programs in business, technology, engineering, design, education, healthcare, nursing, and many other "in-demand" fields.
If you think distant learning might be the right solution for you, we recommend that you start by reading more about the colleges & universities featured here. Or, if you have a specific degree program in mind, you can find out where it's available in the degree programs section of this site.
Distant educaztion is not an "easier" way to earn a degree. In fact, it's very much like traditional on-campus education, requiring the same amount of study and dedication. However, it DOES provide much more flexibility and convenience for those that are working and trying to advance (or change) their careers, without transportation, staying home with the kids, or wanting to earn a degree that is not readily available at a campus location in their area.
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