Welcome to our distance learning web site

Last year alone, there was a huge 70 percent increase in distance learning registration throughout the United States!

Something must be going on!

Our site is here to bring you the latest information and opportunities on "on-line" education. Today, like never before, you are able to learn from anywhere in the world due to the internet. The goal of this site is to familiarize you with the ins and outs of distance learning and help you to actualize your academic potential.

• This site defines distance learning and describes its effectiveness.
  • What is Distance Learning?
  • Is On-line Learning Effective?
    
• We illustrate the distance learning classroom experience and the history of distance education.
• We examine the roles and relationships of students and faculty in this new educational setting.
• We investigate the types of distance learning and university degrees available

Furthermore, our web site describes the technical requirements for electronic distance learning. We ask you introspective questions about your own student personality and study methods in order to evaluate if distance learning fits your lifestyle and personality. Our web site instructs you in how to find the distance program that best fits your educational goals. Finally, we offer pros and cons on the benefits of distance learning, and a list of resources and links other beneficial web sites.

All you need is the desire, a computer and Internet.

What is Distance Learning?

The Internet threw learning out of the classroom and into cyberspace, making education available anywhere, anytime and adaptable to each person's individual needs. Students in China are registering for computer degrees from American universities. Working parents in Minneapolis can squeeze in accounting courses from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) between their workday and family life. Overachieving high school students can include college calculus in their secondary-school curriculum. International travelers log in to virtual classrooms whenever and wherever they please. Distance learning currently reaches over two million people!

Distance learning enables students to take courses on their own schedule and at their own learning pace through the use of telecommunication technology.

Students do not have to be present at a specific time in front of a teacher and in a real classroom. Instead, they can learn in the comfort of their own home. All that is needed is a computer, modem and internet connection.

Students attend class on their own schedule. Lectures, coursework and discussions all take place at their convenience.

A student's location in relation to the teacher is no longer relevant-the student can be at home, at work, on campus, or in an internet cafe anywhere in the world.

There are no physical boundaries to on-line learning!

Is On-line Learning Effective?

Sounds great, but does it work?

Distance learning provides the same high-quality education as traditional educational institutions. Many on-line programs are actually run from conventional universities and professional training institutes. The teachers and professors are all highly trained and demand high standards. Its effectiveness is reaffirmed in the self-reliant style of educational discipline and its dependence on the clarity of the written word. Distance students are self-motivated, because they most often operate outside a formal class schedule

What is missing is the commute to and from the classroom.

A History of Distance Learning

Distance learning grew out of experimentation by universities with closed satellite television broadcasts into regional classrooms throughout the mid-west in the 1960s. Students used the postal systems to correspond with instructors and receive written lectures and exams. But it wasn't until the growth of telecommunications technologies and the internet, that distance learning began to prosper.

Since the mid-1990s, when on-line education was being hyped as 'the next great killer application,' educators and business people were glossy-eyed with the vision of masses of students paying for expensive courses developed by famous professors from well-known universities. They dreamed of a new kind of classroom with sexy trendy internet technology, such as streaming video, simulation games, and other gimmicks would make run of the mill instructors archaic. Many of those programs no longer exist. The students never arrived. The lack of the personal touch of the ordinary instructor on the other end of the keyboard was deemed the cause. The enormously successful University of Phoenix Online, took the opposite approach. They created small classes, sensible lessons and reliable technology. Today, this cozier distance learning business philosophy is where on-line education is, as proven by the sheer number of students and their tuition dollars.

Today, 70 percent of American universities have at least one course on-line, and it is expected to grow to 90 percent by the year 2005. The variety of schools publishing their intellectual products on the internet is stunning: from modest Mississippi Community Colleges, to exclusive Harvard Business School's M.B.A. program, to the numerous master's degree programs at the University of Illinois, which encompasses a course schedule of hundreds of courses to choose from. The variety of academic and professional disciplines is astonishing. Generally most distance learning curriculum is inclined towards business and technology, with at least 600 marketing courses available online. Students can select from the common academic programs ranging from art, to psychology, to mathematics, and to special education programs.

Throughout the history of distance education, critics questions whether students can actually learn well from a remote location. Detractors argue that on-line education sacrifices intellectual excellence for convenience. It fosters isolation among students and dehumanizes the learning process. The American Federation of Teachers believes that distance learning inhibits rather than enhances quality education.

Universities expect enrollment to triple in the next ten years. To add to the educational options, several corporations, like General Motors and Microsoft, are setting up their own on-line learning centers for their workers and users. Moreover, hosts of private companies have arrived to profit on this fairly new educational market, which is already a multibillion-dollar market worldwide. Companies such as, Click2learn, Quisic, NETg, and SmartForce were formed to sell detached corporate educational modules on business practices ranging from employee hiring to developing C# software. Many of these companies no longer exist as a result of their marketing approach.

A View of the On-Line Classroom

Peering into a distance classroom, you see a highly digital setting. The formal education is conducted while seated in front of the computer screen which is connected to the internet. Absent is the struggle to find the location of the classroom on a large unfamiliar campus and being on time for the instructor's entrance. Instead, students sit alone in the comfort of the environment of their choice, telecommuting concepts, assignments and jokes.

The first day of a class will begin by receiving a study package from the professor that includes a reading list, set of lectures to be downloaded chronologically at an individualized pace and assignment requirements. One also receives a list of fellow students, their e-mail addresses and a private classroom forum message board.

Electronic learning can be either synchronous or asynchronous.

Synchronous learning imitates the traditional pyramid classroom. Classes take place at a specified time, in real-time. Students are connected to each other and to the teachers through audio, satellite television and chat rooms. Questions and responses are immediate. Synchronous learning can take place anywhere, but not anytime and is dependant on available technology.

Asynchronous learning can take place at any time. Students receive a learning package to work on at their own pace. They communicate with teachers and class members through e-mail and message boards. This style of learning offers collaborative non-hierarchical experience that is boundless to time and place. Most on-line courses are conducted in this educational style.

Class size is limited similar to traditional education. Students receive grades, credits and certification according to the standards of the educational institution.

Many courses often have specified dates when they begin and end and include a schedule of coursework and assignment due dates. There are also courses that are self-paced, which are similar to independent study.

Most learning occurs in the communication between students and professors and among students themselves. Students are often graded on their on-line participation which is required five out of seven days a week. Students find these dialogues and academic debates demanding and quite challenging. Through these on-line chats, social relationships also grow. Social quantifiers, such as physical characteristics and race, don't exist here. The entire experience is liberating. Just as in conventional education, distance learning creates strong social and professional bonds between students and their instructors.

Who are the Key Players in Distance Education?

As in traditional learning institutions, distance education has faculty, students, support staff and administrators.

Distant teachers depend on the written word as their classroom is devoid of visual cues from "live" students. Often the spontaneity of the real classroom is lost in the transformation despite telecommunication technology such as video conferencing and chat rooms.

In instructor-led learning courses there is a curriculum which has been developed by the instructor. This instructor conducts the class, provides assignments, answers questions, leads discussions and grades student assignments.

In instructor-facilitated learning students learn at their own pace through the course curriculum developed by the instructor and share their thoughts with other students through telecommunications technology. The instructor evaluates the assignments that the students initiate.

On-line learning enables the educator to reach a wider student audience with a multitude of lifestyles and locations. In addition, speakers and resources are available from outside the geographical location of the educational setting, which is not usually acceptable in the traditional learning environment.

Distance students require additional motivation, discipline and the ability to analyze and apply the information taught. On-line learning often reflects the open educational theories. Many distant students are older, with the demands of families and jobs that often conflict with the schedule and location of the traditional educational settings. These students aren't necessarily looking for the stereotypical educational social experience, but are in search of education as an end to a means. On-line learning enables them to study at the best program available, in the time and schedule they have. These students still meet fellow students and create professional relationships through e-mails and phone calls.

Distance students are usually more isolated than traditional students. There is less competition between students, because of the absence of the physical classroom that provides face-to-face contact. Some students may find this impersonal and be uncomfortable with the direct support from teachers. Distance learners must also be comfortable with technology as the conduit of their communication.

On-line educational institutions offer support staff to aid students with technical problems. Administrators are available as with any institution, aiding in the process of registration and academic needs. On-line colleges offer student services and conveniences such as financial aid, counseling and academic advising. The most successful institutions offer mentoring, librarians, and technical help on-line around the clock.

In reality, instructors find the on-line system astonishingly personal. The professor's style and personality is present as in the conventional classroom, but with the added intimacy of email, he becomes more like a private tutor.

On the down-side, even courses taught by well-meaning instructors encounter problems if there are too many students for the instructors to keep up with the e-mail traffic. With a class of 40 students, an instructor may receive more than 300 e-mails a day. Sometimes, it is humanly impossible for the teacher to keep up with such demands of distance learning.

Types of E-Learning

Today you can learn everything on-line from professional certification to university degrees. Many established universities have on-line departments that offer accredited degree programs: Associate, bachelors, masters and PhD degrees. Credits can be earned on-line, then transferred and applied to other degrees at different educational institutions.

Professionals can take distance learning courses that in the past required them to travel. This flexibility is a key-the ability to work and gain professional training and technical skills. E-learning is a better educational environment for the business sector with its lower costs and individual time management.

Continuing Education is available on-line and takes on a leisurely atmosphere. Adult students may choose courses from around the world in subjects that interest them.

Some schools encourage student and professional camaraderie by requiring on-campus visits, which are often intense educational residencies or retreats, where students finish group projects, attend lectures with professors, and most importantly become acquainted with each other. These programs are highly successful.

Technical Requirements

What technical tools are necessary for e-learning? Most on-line learning needs an internet browser and a connection to the internet. These technologies are the enabler of effective distance education.

Computer and Hardware - any PC or Macintosh will work fine, the higher the quality, the more seamless the technology will seem. Students who wish to use audio and video systems will require higher computational speed and processing memory. The recommended is PC system running Windows Vista or XP, or any Macintosh computer with reliable access to the internet with either Internet Explorer, Firefox, Mozilla or Opera Web Browser installed. The internet connection and type reflects the speed of communicating and downloading educational information. A student may be connected to an academic or business network, or through a cable modem or a DSL phone line. The larger the bandwidth, the more seamless the experience. Many institutions have private networks that offer wide fast bandwidth.

Students are generally not required to buy software, and most course specific software is provided for free. In addition, most on-line programs offer free orientation classes, which assure that students are technically prepared for the course. Students will still need to have an operating system and general software tools such as Microsoft(tm) Word. Sometimes free plug-in software programs are needed such as: Windows Media or Real Player, Macromedia(tm) Flash, QuickTime(tm) and Chat Services.

On-line learning uses generally accepted interactive technology such as e-mail, bulletin boards and the internet.

Electronic mail (e-mail) - Like postal mail, e-mail is used to exchange messages between individuals. Software programs such as Microsoft(tm) Outlook are used the most often. It is also possible to use internet sites such as gmail.com, hotmail.com and yahoo.com for their e-mail services.

Bulletin Boards - Most bulletin boards are accessible through the internet. The most common public bulletin boards are USENET and LISTSERV. USENET is a collection of thousands of newsgroups, covering every topic imaginable. LISTSERV provides discussion forums on a variety of topics broken down by areas of special interest.

World-Wide Web (WWW) -This is the front-end to the internet and provides users with a uniform user-friendly means of accessing a wide variety of mediums available on the internet, such as, pictures, text, data, sound and video. For educational purposes, the World-Wide Web acts as a global library from any location.

Through the use of Instructor Web Pages, teachers can build a virtual classroom with class information such as the syllabus, exercises, literature references and the instructor's biography. It may include useful resource links to other web sites and administrative links, such as, access library catalogs and a students' individual home pages.

Some distance courses include Instructional Television (ITV), which can be either passive or interactive; many systems are compressed digital video over high speed bandwidth which is well beyond the range of the common modem internet connection. These systems are similar to video conferencing or pre-recordered broadcasting. When a course requires this technology, students are offered a location to receive ITV services.

Does On-Line Learning Fit You?

To know if distance learning fits you, you need to examine how you learn best. Because the internet is so individualized and flexible, courses can be developed to meet individualized educational styles and needs. Technology in the on-line classroom can mean streaming-video lectures in real time, to instructorless simulations, to e-mail intense university courses that require students to read and research information. Students can pick the format that best suits them.

Some on-line learning basics

• You need access to a computer and the internet.
• You need to feel comfortable using the computer, typing and reading.
• You need to be comfortable trying out new situations and technologies, asking questions, handling one-on-one dialogue with peers and instructors, being able to work independently, learning through reading and understanding that on-line courses will be as demanding as traditional classes.
• You need to enjoy the freedom and responsibility of choosing daily when to attend class and when to study.
• Or maybe you are the type that has a busy schedule and can't fit the course you want into your routine so you have gone the distance learning route.
• If you are the type that looks forward to the exchange of ideas and benefits from direct feedback from instructors and from class membersor from simply writing to help organize your thoughts, this method could be for you.
• Distance learning is ideal for those who feel shy about speaking up in a lecture hall and are more likely to ask questions in this electronic environment.

Finding the Right Program

Distance learning sounds great. Now where is the right course of study for you?

Finding the right programs on-line is similar to finding the program that fits you in traditional education. Actually, one of the best ways to explores is looking at conventional programs and then inquiring about distance learning. There are many gateway websites that provide hundreds of programs in all areas of studies throughout the world. Remember, you don't need to be in California to go to the University of Southern California anymore.

Distance learning programs have competitive acceptances just as traditional institutions, due to limited class size. Many require transcripts and standardized test scores in order to apply to the program. Professional programs may require educational and professional experience, along with written recommendations.

The cost of e-learning ranges as widely as in the traditional education. It is worth shopping around when looking at professional education. Credits at universities can range as widely as the difference in price between a community college and the Ivy League. Did you know that you can go to Columbia University on-line?

Many educational institutions offer financial aid. There are certain organizations and agencies that assist with funding for distance learning. The best place to start is by contacting the institution you want to take the course from or by contacting the government of that country to see what types of assistance are available. Also, many companies have tuition reimbursement for further education. And military service members are offered scholarships.

If you are looking to transfer credits, make sure you contact the college or university you are considering in advance to see if you credits are transferable.

How to Recognize if an Educational Institution is Legitimate?

You may have heard that some on-line programs may be 'degree mills'. Remember that quality education requires time and effort. No legitimate program will offer a degree or a certificate without learning properly. It is important to check the institution's accreditation by recognized accrediting agencies, but make note that many respectable institutions world wide may be unaccredited because some countries have no formal accreditation authority. For further information in this area, begin by contacting the Department of Education in the country of interest.

Pros and cons on the benefits of distance learning

Pros: On-line learning places the advantage with the learner rather than the institution. It creates a more effective educational market as opposed to a controlled allocation of scarce teaching resources through the traditional regional location of educational institutions.

In many ways, e-learning is the globalization of education. A student can have classmates and instructors from all over the world. This in it self is a wonderful educational opportunity.

Cons: Electronic learning may isolate students physically, which can have negative effects on team building and sociability. Students with an aptitude for verbal expression may suffer in the virtual classroom.

Not every student possesses the discipline needed to complete a distance course without instructor prodding them along. Unfortunately, classes with little instructor interaction have high dropout rates, sometimes as high as sixty percent. Students who get frustrated with the technology may lose faith. Employees having to learn on their own time can add to the workload of an already overstressed person.

Distance education is demanding, because it requires independent discipline from both the faculty and the student. As a result of the effort, learning becomes more meaningful with deeper comprehension. Students and their instructors share responsibility for developing individual goals and objectives. Students must actively interact with class members, which promotes reflection on the subject matter and elevates the students' self-esteem.