Internet heralds Distance Learning Boom - Set to change the way students study

In 1998, 60 percent of US educational institutions provided Distance Learning courses according to figures released last month by the U.S. Education Department's national Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This is a drastic increase on the figure of 28% from 1995 and makes distance learning courses the fastest growing area in the education industry today. Although video is still the most popular method of distance learning, at least 25% of the courses used the internet as the method of communication, a large increase on the 1995 figures.

In total, almost 80% of public 4-year institutions in the U.S. now offer distance learning courses and enrolments almost doubled in the period between 1994-1998.

"Distance learning brings postsecondary education closer to more students," said Acting Commissioner of NCES Gary W. Phillips. "It not only provides greater access, it also provides alternative ways of delivering new educational opportunities."

According to the survey, approximately 54,000 different distance education courses were offered in 1997-98 across the USA, of which 1,230 were degree programmes with over 1.6 million students attending.

While the number and range of courses flourishes, the costs of taking such courses are not always lower. Seven percent of postsecondary institutions that offered distance education charged the same tuition for these courses as for comparable on-campus courses.

The figures suggest a gradual move away from traditional methods of study and a change in the very nature of higher education all over the world, especially if the Internet increases in popularity. Although fees may not decrease drastically, the opportunities for international students to receive a degree from an accredited US university while staying at home raises endless possibilities. Huge financial savings can be made by students living in their home country yet studying abroad. Students from close-knit families may not need to be separated from them; students with their own families need not uproot husbands and children in order to further their career; those that dislike the idea of moving to a strange place need not actually do so but graduate from the comfort of their bedrooms.

However, the benefits of attending a campus-based course should also not be forgotten. The Internet does not provide for the human contact of classroom courses, making friends, the debate with peers, the social life, the bonding and all of the other aspects of traditional learning that cannot be achieved sitting at a computer screen. The drastic learning curve of existing in a foreign country and important cross-cultural understanding will begin to decrease, perhaps to the detriment of students and their home nations.

Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Marshall Smith agrees. "Distance learning has great potential to expand educational opportunities but, at the same time, it is important that we use the technology in responsible ways to complement traditional campus-based instruction and ensure the quality and integrity of the educational offerings."

Debating Distance?

Learning need not take place face-to-face with a teacher or tutor. Increasingly distance learning is the method of choice for many, particularly post-graduates.

Elspeth Harrison of the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council discusses the real advantages for post-graduate study, the drawbacks of distance, and gives some pointers on choosing the right course.

Distance learning is not a new idea. But more and more people today find it the most suitable way to master new skills and qualifications.

The obvious attractions of distance learning are the flexibility and the capacity to fit learning to lifestyle. Study wherever is convenient, at times to suit, at a speed you set, and start dates are not necessarily fixed to an outdated academic calendar.

In recent years, the choice of courses has expanded to cover practically any subject, and these lead to a wide range of qualifications, from GCSEs to Masters and Doctorates.

The Internet is creating new possibilities. The advocates of “e-learning” argue that it will revolutionise education. One American university has gone so far as to insist students take at least one online course a year.

“Home study” need not mean second class or unsupported. Success rates are often higher than for traditional learning, as distance learners have more control over their studies and the motivation to excel.

High quality course materials are specially devised to optimise learning at a distance. Each student has an individual expert tutor, drawn from amongst the best in the country, to provide professional guidance, support and encouragement, which may be by correspondence, telephone, fax or e-mail. Where hands on experience is essential, for instance in the healing arts, this can be provided through separate sessions.

Nor should learners feel lonely. Peer-group contact and discussions can take place, either locally, through special sessions, or using new technologies such as e-mail chat groups. Larger providers will also have student and careers advisers, ready to help and offer advice.

However, distance has disadvantages. It is essential to assess any provision carefully to ensure likely outcome matches aspiration, that there is adequate support, and above all that the course is of a high quality. Learners with ODL QC-accredited providers are covered by the ODL QC Guarantee. Those who receive a poor service, or have a dispute they cannot resolve can write to ODL QC who will look into their case. With other providers, such support may not be available.

Motivation can be higher amongst those in the correspondence community, but commitment and stamina are essential to complete courses. Learners who lack the will power to ‘get down to work’ or the time management skills to organise their studies will find it harder to succeed. When choosing a course prospective learners must be pragmatic about their own abilities and the time necessary for any program of study.

For post-graduates distance learning can be a particularly effective.

Learners who wish to obtain a specific qualification, such as MSc or Doctorate, are more likely to be able to judge whether any provision will give the required result. In addition, a first degree (gained via distance or traditional methods) will have taught study skills and organisational techniques.

Post-grads with analytical skills can take advantage of the wealth of courses offered by international providers. The US is a particularly strong player in distance learning and with careful selection, learners anywhere can benefit from a world-class provision in practically any subject.

According to figures from The Open University, a high proportion of post-graduate diplomas are now gained via distance methods. There is no single reason for this but the key is undoubtedly the flexibility that distance learning allows.

Graduates may decide on extra qualifications once established in work to enhance or change their career. After university students often wish to experience “real life”, and to undertake any further study whilst working. The value, both monetary and through the eyes of employers, is great. In practical terms, it allows learners to fund their studies and gain financial independence. Costs, particularly transport and residential, are kept to a minimum.

Increasingly, qualifications alone are not enough to climb the career ladder. Whilst demanding highly educated staff, employers also seek evidence of transferable skills, and often demand relevant professional experience. Distance learning is the ideal way to meet this challenge. What better way to prove organisational skills, flexibility and motivation? Indeed, many courses are run in partnership with employers, who provide time and money to support training.

Every learner wants to choose a high-quality, relevant provision. A new booklet from the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODL QC) shows how to identify a quality provision and find the right course. Entitled “Distance Learning Courses: A Buyers Guide”, it is available upon request.

Established by government as the official accrediting body for Open and Distance Learning, the Council has 30 years unrivalled experience of ensuring excellence. ODL QC aims to ensure learning is flexible, friendly, and above all secure.

Accreditation, which allows providers to display the ODL QC Guarantee, gives learners much needed reassurance as to the quality of the opportunities on offer in the rapidly expanding “home-study” sector.

An MBA by Distance Learning

There are various approaches to learning. Full time programmes at all levels require a career break of some sort. This may be acceptable especially for short courses or where you get leave of absence but you also have to consider access, location, timing, the quality of the group and of the deliverer. Local courses may be of restricted quality and you may not be able to afford overseas courses.

Distance learning provides a number of alternative approaches. One form, often described as Distance Learning, is effectively a type of part-time programme. Infrequent but regular attendance is required and there are time schedules and group involvement. The content and quality of these programmes is dependent upon the local delivery and the quality of the local student group. Whoever is offering the course and however prestigious they are, this is a critical aspect to probe. True Distance Learning basically involves conventional home study, supported by a variety of aids and Tutorial support. High quality Distance Learning programmes, although sometimes dismissed as correspondence courses offer a lot of advantages.

Most programmes offer a realistic level of time flexibility and can be studied in remote locations and even if you move during the course. They provide access to acknowledged centres of excellence and one of the features you should look for is that the same course is delivered in the home territory. Distance Learning is available for all levels of skill and knowledge, whether training or education. Distance Teaching is probably the best for practical skills, when detailed feedback on performance and performance improvement is required. Distance Learning is very effective for courses leading to professional qualification or degrees. It is most relevant when you require access to a large body of knowledge and feedback on assignments, presented as written reports, is appropriate. There are a wide variety of Distance Learning courses, of both types, offered by UK institutions.

A critical question if how you can assess the quality of Distance Learning programmes. Where possible look first for equivalence. Some UK Universities, like Durham, offer their MBA programmes through a variety of routes. Although the process is different the end result is the same. For a Distance Learning programme the course offered is defined by the course material and is therefore open to inspection. All students should get the same experience so check most carefully that the same programme is offered in the institution’s home territory, this is one of the strongest indicators of a quality programme. Access to these programmes is probably more realistic for relatively isolated students. Independent guidance can also be given by professional institutions or organisations such as AMBA or professional institutions, who represent the participants view impartially.