Distance Learning Pros:
Convenience -- take online courses when you need them, not based on some
college’s annual or semester schedule. A course is as close as a computer
with an Internet connection.
Flexibility
-- with no set class times, you decide when to complete your assignments
and readings. You set the pace. In some programs, you can even design your
own degree plan.
Availability
-- distance-learning opportunities have exploded over the past few years,
with many accredited and reputable programs.
Cost
-- prices are often cheaper for online courses than traditional college
and trade courses -- with no housing or meals plans to worry about.
Self-Directed
-- you set your own pace and schedule, so you control the learning
environment.
Time Spent in
Classroom
-- now you can take a course on just about any subject without ever having
to be in -- or travel to -- a classroom so you have very little wasted
time. Note, however, that some distance-education programs still do have
an in-class component.
Accessibility
-- with an online course, you can work on the course just about anywhere
you have computer access.
Better for
Some Learners
-- distance-education courses are often better for people who learn
through visual cues and experiential exercises and those that require more
time, are language-challenged, or introverted.
No Travel
Expenses
-- you may never even have to leave your house to take an online course,
and certainly there are no relocation costs.
No
Interrupting Job/Career
-- because distance learning courses are located in cyberspace and
controlled by your pace, there is no need to quit your current job -- or
even take a leave of absence -- to go back to school.
Distance Learning Cons:
No Instructor Face Time -- if your learning style is one where you like
personalized attention from your teachers, then online education will
probably not work for you.
Perceptions/Reputation
-- while slowly changing as more and more mainstream colleges and
universities embrace distance learning, there still is a stigma attached
to distance education.
Requires New
Skills/Technologies -- if you’re not computer-savvy or are afraid of change or new
technologies, then online education will probably not work for you.
No Social
Interaction
-- while you often interact with classmates via email, chat rooms, or
discussion groups, there are no parties or offline get-togethers.
Making Time
-- if you are a procrastinator or one of those people who always needs an
extra push to complete work, you may have a hard time making time for your
online classes.
Little
Support
-- students are expected to find their own resources for completing
assignments and exams, which is empowering for some, but daunting for
others.
No
Campus Atmosphere
-- part of the traditional college experience, of course, is the beauty of
the campus, the college spirit -- but you have none of that with
distance-education courses.
