| nk"> | | | | learning at their own pace and at their own |
| When you study via online courses, there is no | | | | convenience. Students can study their distance |
| such thing as a 7 am class. There is no driving across | | | | learning course in the comfort of their own home. |
| town and having to hunt down a parking spot that is | | | | With that being said, working at home can have its |
| close to campus. Distance learning programs give | | | | own set of distractions. The sound of the television, |
| students the ease of learning at their own pace and | | | | the telephone, or the noise coming from kids or pets |
| at their own convenience. Students can study their | | | | can be major distractions. Working online can also |
| distance learning course in the comfort of their own | | | | lead to temptation of doing something more fun, |
| home. | | | | such as chatting via instant messaging or surfing the |
| The notion of distance learning programs varies, as | | | | web. It may not apply to every student, but things |
| many individuals still aren't aware of what taking a | | | | like browsing can take out a chunk of time in your |
| distance learning course involves or whether an | | | | day that could have been used towards your |
| education through a distance learning school is the | | | | distance learning program. |
| right one. There are advantages and disadvantages | | | | Distance learning courses involve independent learning, |
| to studying online. Before enrolling in a distance | | | | with very little physical contact with the teacher or |
| learning course, the following points should be taken | | | | other students. Everything must be done on your |
| into consideration: | | | | own. Taking online classes from a distance learning |
| A better focus and concentration is a huge | | | | school usually means things like study groups are |
| advantage of distance learning programs. Wasted | | | | nonexistent, due mostly to time or distance |
| time commuting and the distractions of listening to | | | | constraints. While some students thrive on working |
| lectures amidst a group of shuffling people are gone. | | | | independently, other students find difficulty in going |
| Distance learning courses can be worked on when | | | | at it alone. |
| the time is right and when the student can sit down | | | | When a student has a problem while working on |
| to fully direct his or her attention to the course | | | | homework or on an exam, the student taking a |
| material. | | | | distance learning course can directly ask a teacher for |
| Everyone in an online classroom gets a chance to | | | | help. With distance learning programs, though, the |
| contribute. Many times, students grouped in traditional | | | | teacher and students may not be together at the |
| classrooms are reluctant to raise their hand to either | | | | same time, meaning that an instructor cannot give a |
| ask or answer a question. In a room full of fellow | | | | student immediate feedback and must communicate |
| students, pressure to avoid embarrassment is high. | | | | differently. |
| With distance learning programs, students are able to | | | | Distance learning programs are taught through a |
| think through a question carefully and can post the | | | | computer and a student must uphold a minimum level |
| answer online to the distance learning school website | | | | of computer knowledge. Knowing just the basics of |
| or message board, when they are ready to do so. | | | | computer technology is usually not enough for a |
| Being taught online leaves very little room for | | | | student to excel within an online class. |
| cheating or slacking off. As with live classrooms, | | | | Some students find that the lack of examples or |
| quizzes and exams through distance learning | | | | explanations that a professor can provide to be a |
| programs are timed. Through discussion boards of | | | | distinct disadvantage of distance learning programs. |
| the distance learning school, it is easy to tell whether | | | | After all, if we don't understand the material |
| or not a student understands the ideas in a lesson. | | | | presented, there isn't anyone we can go to for extra |
| There is actually little chance for people to get by | | | | discussion or explanation until the idea sinks in. |
| unnoticed while competing a distance learning course. | | | | However, students can contact the distance learning |
| With online courses, there is no such thing as a 7 am | | | | school to speak with someone who can help. Email |
| class. There is no driving across town and having to | | | | communication is also available, but the time delay in |
| hunt down a parking spot that is close to campus. | | | | responses might slow studies down. |
| Distance learning programs give students the ease of | | | | |