Distance education!

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   Tammy-Mposted 16 years ago

   Why is online/distance education on the rise? What makes it so appealing? How many of you have experienced online learning? Share info!!

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      guidebabaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Mostly working people ,like me, who have lack of time go for distance education.

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   tcnixonposted 16 years ago

   It is on the rise for a few main reasons:
   
   1. There is a lot of convenience. You can complete courses at any time of the day or night.
   
   2. If there is no local program that you are interested in (or no local program at all), you do not have to move to go to school.
   
   3. Some of those programs have easier admission processes.
   
   Certainly cost is not a factor. Quite often the programs are more expensive than traditional programs.
   
   
   Tom Nixon

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      joe strummerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      t beside the reasons mentioned by tom nixon,i´d like to mention a couple more
      
      -the raise of web 2.0. and the new eLearning sites
      -the many free of charge sites and content sharing paltforms
      -the option for users to become teachers and earn money in the process is also a good motivation,
      
      i wrote a hub about this issue  a  couple of days ago, focused on language learning using web 2.0.

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   JYOTI KOTHARIposted 16 years ago

   1. Variety of programme
   2. Flexibility
   3.Cost effective
   4.User friendly
   5.Availability of Quality programme
   6.Outsourcing
   7.Connectivity

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      tcnixonposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with all of these except for cost effective. Most of these programs are treated as cash cows, particularly for schools that have both residential and online programs. Instead of being less expensive, often these are more expensive than traditional programs.
      
      I think, though, your number five hits it for a lot of people. Instead of choosing a major based on what your local college offers, you can go out into the world - via the Internet - and choose what your heart truly desires.
      
      
      
      Tom

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   patnamohanposted 16 years ago

   It helps to continue education & enhance skill even after you are in job.

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   Tammy-Mposted 16 years ago

   i would have to agree here that not all programs and colleges are cost-effective. there are definately some universities out there charge far more for online courses. but then the availability of a vast number of subjects to choose from, and study from the comfort of your home surely makes it up for everything!!
   
   but then, everything has its negative points ryte? what do you guys think they are?

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      tcnixonposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Certainly there are some negatives. The drop-out rate for these programs is non inconsequential. Why? I don't really know for sure, but certainly not having someone closely monitoring your education could have something to do with it.
      
      It's rather funny. There are people who choose distance learning because they think it will be easier when most often it is the exact opposite.

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   Hope Wilbanksposted 16 years ago

   I recently returned to college, to earn my degree totally online. So for me, it's...
   
   1) Convenience
   2) Flexibility
   3) Speed and ease of use

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   Tammy-Mposted 16 years ago

   its true people think studying online is all fun and games... but in all actuality i believe its harder than studying in a classroom. and i suppose your ryte about the drop out rate thing..but dont universities promose individual attention to all online students?

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   thranaxposted 16 years ago

   Some people don't think online learning works. I don't know if it does or not, basically the thing people think about is anyone can "cheat" and just Google every answer to every question the site asks. I don't personally know but thats what I'm sure the norm is for thinking about online learning.

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      guidebabaposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Correct. Because online learning gives no practical experience. Online Education is given least preference when it comes to getting a Job.

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   nikkiuposted 16 years ago

   Online learning should be part and parcel of the holistic learning experience. The web is a great source of information but learning in this way can require great self discipline. It can also be an isolating experience as no amount of online chat can match the buzz one gets from being in the company of positive like minded people.

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      tcnixonposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      That self discipline is key. The drop-out rate for online programs is significant. While in a traditional school, you are pushed along by class times and by professors, online it becomes much more about you.

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    Tammy-Mposted 16 years ago

    and what do you ppl htink of the free online courses being offered by MIT and some other universities? what good are they?

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       tcnixonposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       They are good for personal learning. They might be good for helping you gain a better understanding of certain subjects that you are currently taking.
       
       That being said, there is no academic credit involved. Yes, you can learn. No, you cannot apply it toward a degree.

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    WeddingConsultantposted 16 years ago

    Self-discipline IS key in online education. I'm taking classes online right now and they're quite challenging, but the biggest thing is budgeting time and energy.
    
    I suspect, though, that the issues are different with my degree vs. an undergraduate degree. Undergrad distance education is much different, for the most part, than a graduate or post graduate degree.
    
    Different challenges, different respect levels (in some cases), different workloads, different prices. It's a whole different animal, in my opinion.

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    crashcromwellposted 16 years ago

    I have to weigh in here and plug my employer. I have recently started teaching for the University of Phoenix online, in the Axia College. I have two classes, and most of the students are non-traditional, in the sense that they've been out of high school for a while and are going back to earn their degree. I find teaching for the University of Phoenix to be highly enjoyable, because the attitude there is so pro-active and student-centered. Even my students who are struggling with the new technology are taking responsibility for late assignments. I wish my face-to-face students had been so forthcoming.
    
    Online education is great for the students because they can access education from the comfort of their home. It's great for young parents who traditionally have been locked out of higher education while raising children. It's also great for the faculty - I get to teach my classes in my shorts! I could never do that when I taught in a traditional classroom.
    
    I am so pleased by the product this University offers that I am actually considering taking Ph. D. classes there, once I've been in the system long enough to take classes at a reduced cost.

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    Tammy-Mposted 16 years ago

    awesome! UoP is at times considred a fake degree mill.. maybe Crash can clear that out for us are students given the same attention as on-campus students? how true is this s tatement?

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