To distance learn or not: part two

Added to this is the inherent unreliability of technology, which is the foundation on which successful distance learning is built and the realistic fear that it might fail you is one which might put you off the idea all together. Without the tools you need to communicate and learn, passing your courses can be nearly impossible. Fortunately, with a wealth of communication mediums, it is a fear that while not wholly unfounded (if you've been watching too much Jericho), is unlikely to ever come to fruition.

Communication issues aside, the global nature of distance learning can be a challenge as well as a benefit - with issues such as time differences and a lack of formal classes, there's no synchronicity in the learning process. This may contribute to a feeling of isolation on the part of the students - no one is experiencing the same things that they are, which can contribute to apathy and a lack of motivation, making the exercise of learning a pointless one.

Fortunately, unlike the more abstract concerns around this type of education, this is one which is easily overcome simply by enrolling for the course with another person you know or work with. This will provide you with a brain to pick as well as some support should you need it. As mentioned in my tips for making distance learning work for you, it also introduces a valuable element of competition which might motivate you to work harder and get more out of your experience.

But the benefits outweigh the challenges

With most course offerings, students have the opportunity to learn from wherever they are in the world. This of course refers back to access, but also to a number of other factors. We are no longer limited by geography and can pick courses based on quality and reputation rather than picking them based on our proximity to a school.

Of course, one can't discuss the benefits of distance learning over traditional tertiary schooling without mentioning the flexibility that it offers. Distance learning allows students to work in their own time, allowing for the possibility that they have families to take care of, businesses to run or full time jobs to go to. Further education for these people would simply not be an option without the ability to work in their own time.

As the course content is not reliant on lectures, the quality of the notes and materials that students have access to is often of a higher standard than those distributed in lecture based courses. When creating course notes, lecturers are aware that these are a large component of the information that the students will have access to. This also ensures that all students have access to the same calibre of resources (removing the subjectivity of self-taken notes) while also guaranteeing that because they are so comprehensive, students have materials that can be used again in their professional lives.

For those of us who are greenies, distance learning takes away almost everything about education that threatens the environment. We no longer need to drive to class or commute to visit the family during holidays. There is no need to print assignments (they are all emailed) or file reams of notes printed on dead trees. Universities are resource guzzlers, however magnificent they are. They have carbon footprints the size of Antarctica. With distance learning, all of the resources you need are in your home or office.

To conclude, distance learning is certainly not for everyone. If you're one of those students who put their hands up every five seconds and stayed behind to speak to the professor after every lecture, then it probably isn't for you. For those of us who have learnt to use Google all by ourselves, it is a viable learning option. Yes, you need to choose your courses carefully. If they're not offered by universities, make sure they're offered by companies who know what they're doing and who have experience in training and education. Find a friend to do the course with and open your mind up to a different experience - you are likely to emerge not only better educated and more skilled, but richer for the experience.