It helps a student to know the disadvantage of distance learning while considering taking up a course offered through this medium. New Age educational tools like e-courses are a godsend to people who want to study further but do not have the means to do so, however it is not necessary that every individual is cut out for distance education. So while weighing your options for advanced learning through distance courses, be sure to assess the downside of it and determine if your personality is compatible with distance education.
No Space for Procrastination
The greatest disadvantage of distance learning is the constant self-motivation that a student needs to keep himself from lagging behind. In distance education, a teacher and student are not in the same room physically, and there is no real inter-personal interaction between them. In case of an assignment submission in the traditional form of education, the constant reminder by your ever-present teacher may put the necessary pressure on you to perform. However, due to the remote nature of distance learning, the students might find themselves putting work off for another day. Moreover this procrastinating attitude hurts student's prospects, as they will find it difficult to keep to timelines and complete the necessary assignments.
Technological Know-How is Critical
The reach of online means of distance education has increased over the last few years as the IT sector has flourished. However, not everyone has access to these upgraded technologies, and there are millions who might not have the technical proficiency to utilize these resources to their optimum. People who live in remote areas may not have access to computers; moreover the high cost of computers keeps some people from purchasing one. Even if they do, their systems might not be compatible with the new technologies and they would be unable to use the educational tools. In such a case, distance learning is rendered futile, as low penetration of computers and high internet costs turn out to be an alarming disadvantage of distance learning.
Further yet, even though distance education has seen an unprecedented rise in the last few decades, the mindset of many people is still negative about its effectiveness. Though educational institutions are fast adopting this means of teaching, there is still time before online education becomes a first choice for students. A positive attitude and greater technological awareness seem to be the cure for this disadvantage of distance learning.
Department Of Distance Learning
The prospect of promotion and a bigger paycheck is fuelling the fast growing popularity of distance learning and online degrees. Online learning attracts students because flexible scheduling allows these learners to earn their degree without ever leaving the comfort of home. But do employers have a positive take on the qualifications of students with an online degree?
While employers may have once answered this question with considerable skepticism, it now seems the online phenomenon is finding much wider acceptance. In one sense, employers have little choice in the matter because of the sheer popularity of distance learning. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), for example, more than 54% of the country's post-secondary institutions now offer online courses or degrees. While no hard figures are yet available, the Center estimates that online enrollment could top six million students in 2006. The nation's biggest online university, the University of Phoenix Online, had more than 115,000 students on its books in 2004, the most recent year for which accurate numbers are available.
Given the magnitude of these numbers, it's difficult to imagine that employers can long overlook online grads as potentially valuable new employees. But an initial study of the phenomenon by Vault.com, a website specializing in career information, revealed a strong preference by employers for a more conventional degree path. Nearly four-fifths of the employers surveyed still favored a degree from a conventional on-campus college or university. For some at least, a purely "virtual" degree was considered less credible than a diploma from a well-known Ivy League or Big Ten university.
Happily, there's more to a degree than the name on a diploma and whether the degree was earned strictly on campus. Online universities have commissioned more recent studies that show job applicants with an online degree from an accredited online university now have a more level playing field when competing for jobs. The focus seems more and more to be on accreditation, a process in which universities participate in voluntary reviews of their academic program by one of six regional accrediting agencies in the United States. Accreditation means that an online college or university fulfills uniform standards that apply equally to both traditional on-campus centers of learning as well as online institutions. A database of accredited colleges and universities is available from the U.S. Secretary of Education at www.ed.gov.
For many employers, the issue of an online degree isn't an issue at all. This is especially true when an existing employee wants to improve his or her level of education while continuing to work full time. Employers frequently provide the financial incentive for such employees because an online degree can make the employee more valuable to the company. Nearly three-fifths of the students at the University of Phoenix Online, for example, receive some or all of their online tuition from their employer.
Online learning should continue to grow faster than any other education segment for the foreseeable future, says the National Center for Education Statistics. As long as an online degree comes from a properly accredited college or university, graduates can expect their degrees to meet with increasing acceptance by employers.
Both Jim Zorn & Matthew Paolini are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jim Zorn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing and Communications, Careers and Job Hunting and Learn Spanish. Jim Zorn is web master of the Guide to Distance Learning. Please visit to learn more about online colleges and universities, distance learning degrees, majors and courses offered.. Jim Zorn's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Matthew Paolini has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, web development and Travel and Leisure. Matt Paolini works from home as a distance learner. Visit or. Matthew Paolini's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
