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Distance learning can be defined as an education program imparted by a university beyond the barriers of its campus and taken by a student outside the walls of a university. A distance learning program is a medium that connects students to the universities of the world.
Distance learning programs are becoming the most popular and viable way of teaching and learning. More and more people are registering for distance learning programs at different universities.
Distance learning is imparted through the electronic media and study materials supplied by the University for a Particular Course. It helps people to upgrade their educational qualifications even when they are tied up in their working schedule. Some business houses also use distance learning to train their employees as it is less time-consuming, less expensive, and adds to the human resource enrichment of the business house.
To enroll in a distance learning course one must be sure as to what kind of specialization one is looking for. An extensive study must then be done to find out in detail about the universities that offer the course wanted. The time duration of the course, the fees, the software needed and the time of the exam must also be checked. The most important factor that should be checked is whether the school or university is accredited or not, one should not register in a university that is not accredited.
PROS
Every coin has two sides and a distance learning program is not an exception to the rule. While distance learning program is advantageous as it helps people to continue with their education despite their demanding schedule.
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A distance learning program gives freedom to a student to learn at his own pace, on his own schedule, and at his own convenience.
Distance learning can benefit universities because it can bring an element of flexibility to the learning process through the use of technologies, and interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning. The use of technologies and interdisciplinary approaches are key factors in distance education in higher education. The advantage of technology in distance learning is that students can watch lectures before coming to class and engage in more interactive activities in the class. They can also collaborate with other students and rely on the instructor as a facilitator rather than a lecturer. It also allows for consistent delivery of content, because online videos can be prerecorded and shared with the rest of the class online.
CONS
It also has some disadvantages. It may fail to motivate a student to study resulting in no good for the candidate, this shows registering yourself is not sufficient, you must also have a drive-in yourself to continue with the study. The success of distance education also depends on the success of the technology. And without a good support system and infrastructure distance learning may be a failure.
Thus we can say that distance learning is a boon for today’s busy and demanding world but it also demands a significant level of maturity from its students.