Distance Learning

Definition - Distance Learning (e-learning) is any educational process where the learner and the source of instruction are separated by time and/or distance.

We only deal with two type of distance learning.

Web-Based Courses (Internet) - web-based courses allow conferencing, uploading and downloading of materials, study group work, Email, live chats, and the promise of even more with video and audio clips built right into the course. Hyper linking, or the ability to link to a reference source online while logged onto the course section, is another promising feature of web-based courses. Web-based courses are showing the most growth, nationally, because of the rich and numerous features inherent in the web itself.

CD-Based Courses - CD-based courses are a little more primitive due to the fact you can not have conferencing, study group work, live chat, and can not be database driven.

Technical Requirements - In order to take distance learning classes, you need access to the following:

• A 486 processor, or better, or comparable processor for Macintosh
• A 66 MHz or faster processor
• A 28.8 KBPS modem, or faster
• 16mb of RAM, or greater
• 14mb hard drive space (for browser)
• Netscape Communicator 4.0, or Internet 5.0, or equivalent browser; more recent versions are preferred
• An Internet Service Provider (ISP)
• An active Email account

Cost Savings - It costs a lot of money for some students to come to your facility to take classes (or for instructors to teach them.) It is also costly to send your instructors out to teach. You might be surprised at how much it costs to give a class.

How to Succeed in Distance Learning - Without exception, effective distance education programs begin with careful planning and a focused understanding of course requirements and student needs. There is no mystery to the way effective distance education programs develop. They don't happen spontaneously; they evolve through the hard work and dedicated efforts of many individuals and organizations. In fact, successful distance education programs rely on the consistent and integrated efforts of students, teachers, facilitators, support staff, and administrators.

Is Distance Learning a Valid Way to Study? - YES. We have reviewed the scientific literature on independent study options as compared to classroom study. Our review of many research reports, summaries, and academic papers shows that when face to face classroom instruction is compared to distance learning there are no significant differences in learning outcomes. In other words, most people can master most subjects just as well using books, videotapes, or online conferencing as they can by attending a traditional classroom lecture.

A recent study of California college students taking a statistics class found that some actually learn better online than they do face to face. When the performance of a group of classroom students was compared to that of a group of online learners, the distance-learning students scored significantly better on their statistics exams.