| As people's busy lives and countless responsibilities | | | | the flexibility to access their classes at any time of the |
| often make it hard to attend a regular class at one | | | | day, as long as deadlines are met. Also, without |
| specific location, they often seek alternatives to | | | | internet, audio conferencing can be effective as it only |
| traditional classroom learning. Distance learning is | | | | requires a telephone. |
| becoming increasingly popular with the expansion of | | | | INTERNET-FREE OPTIONS |
| the internet and the development of new technologies. | | | | For those without internet access, there is also still the |
| FORMS OF DISTANCE LEARNING | | | | somewhat old-fashioned method of correspondence |
| Some popular forms of distance learning include the | | | | courses where materials are mailed back and forth |
| creation of online courses, or CD-ROMs with | | | | from the student to the professor/instructor. These |
| classroom information on the disc, web conferencing, | | | | materials may be paper-based, but can also include |
| correspondence through the postal system, and the | | | | CDs or DVDs of lectures or assignments. Again, these |
| trend of many colleges offering classes in cities | | | | courses provide the flexibility of the student to be able |
| separate from their main facilities. | | | | to work on them whatever time of day works best |
| KEEPING THE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE | | | | for them. |
| To recreate the classroom experience, students can | | | | TESTING |
| be given a textbook and syllabus like they would in a | | | | Testing becomes an issue with distance learning. If a |
| real class, and meet via video or audio conference to | | | | student is working on an online course at home, what's |
| discuss the assignments and hold classes. This enables | | | | to prevent them from having their textbook open in |
| the class to have "face time" with the professor as | | | | front of them, or someone there to help them? Often, |
| well as other students regardless of the location of | | | | exams are held at a common location (such as the |
| each student, which can make learning a worldwide | | | | college facility site or a testing office) to prevent |
| experience. Lectures can also be pre-recorded and | | | | cheating. Other programs simply hold students to the |
| downloaded from specified websites. Email and fax | | | | honor system. |
| machines can be used to provide quick feedback and | | | | IN CONCLUSION |
| to meet deadlines. | | | | In this day and age with as many advances in |
| ONLINE ALTERNATIVES | | | | technology as exist, there is no excuse for a desire to |
| Another use of the internet in distance learning | | | | continue learning to be pushed aside due to |
| happens when colleges/programs set up websites | | | | circumstances or lack of time. If there's a subject you |
| specifically for the class that is being taught. Many | | | | wish to learn more about, there are many ways for |
| schools use a platform such as Blackboard, where | | | | you to take a class without having to make major |
| students can log into their classes and get | | | | adjustments to your schedule, or probably even |
| assignments as well as participate in message board | | | | leaving your home. |
| discussions. This works well, as it grants the students | | | | |