Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Distance Learning Benefits

There are numerous distance learning benefits which you ought to consider when electing to take an online distance learning course.

• Distance education promotes the opportunity to meet the needs of students unable to attend on-campus classes

• One of the biggest distance learning benefit is the issue of flexibility and time. A student is not confined to classroom for a certain number of hours on a given day. Online courses provide flexibility when it comes to the completion of the lesson.

• Increased access to learning
• Promotes life long learning
• Allows for wider choices of institutions for learning
• Better marketability
• Increased compensation and promotion potential


• Another benefit of distance learning to students is the ability to do interactive teamwork between groups. Students have the opportunity to correspond with others from different backgrounds and to hear from a variety of speakers from around the world.

• Access to experts and tremendous volume of online databases is also a distance learning benefit. Instead of searching for hours through card catalogs and library stacks, you can utilize an online search engine to find countless experts' articles and leads within seconds

• Instructor communication is an additional distance learning benefit. With the evolution of e-mail and internet chat rooms, instructor-student contact can be maintained and strengthened. This fosters a better educational experience for the distance learning student.

• Ever had to make a special trip to campus to drop off an homework assignment? At two o’clock in the morning? The use of electronic email can allow you to send your homework assignment at any time of day to your professor—safe and convienent. What a benefit for distance learning!

• Have to take a test? Your distance learning professor can securely allow you to take an exam without the need for attending a traditional classroom miles away. The use of local proctors to monitor the examination process can make the benefit of distance learning even more appealing. Many distance learning institutions require the use of proctors to maintain their accreditation.

• Financial benefits of distance learning exist as well. Without the need to leave your home for spending a semester or a year in a distant city, you can substantially save on transportation, housing, and food costs. It goes without saying that you can keep your full or part time job at the same time you matriculate to a distance learning institution.

• Social benefits of distance learning? Without having to leave your community, you maintain your personal, cultural, and social lifestyle. Your circle of comfort is maintained, reducing additional stress.

Distance education has opened the doors for many people to reach their education potential