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Education For The 21st Century: Distance Learning

By: John Chaplin

I am reminded often of something that my uncle once told me: "Time moves on." He was right of course - and that's never been more true in the world of higher education. Largely the preserve of the well-to-do in the past, higher education has proven to be a means of upward mobility for millions in our world today.



And while the so-called 'experts' argue among themselves about future trends, we know one thing for certain: technology has turned the world of higher education upside-down. It is now the primary delivery channel for millions of students worldwide - in the form of 'Distance Education.' Coupling the power of the home PC with the interconnectivity of the Internet, distance learning is revolutionizing the educational landscape, right before our eyes.



To put it in its most simple form: distance learning means participation in academic activities (coursework) even when one is not located near the college campus. In fact, in distance learning the location of the school is irrelevant to the enrolled student. What matters is receiving the course content - whether one lives down the street or in another continent.



The U.S. has a population that is aging, as is well-known. And an aging population is one with increasing responsibilities - work as well as family - that throw up road-blocks and obstacles in the path of the would-be student. Distance learning is a solution that works for them - as academic assignments and classroom participation can now be completed around work schedules and family activities.



Here's our take on the situation: as more and more schools start distance learning programs, more and more adults will take advantage of them and enroll. And when these students graduate, they will bring their up-to-date skill sets into the workplace. As a result, business will greatly benefit. Overall, we can see the American worker becoming more and more efficient. Our workforce will then be positioned to keep - and retain - better paying jobs, as we compete in the global marketplace.



What happens when you enroll in a distance learning program? Well, imagine a world where your entire academic program of study is handled via the Internet, using your PC at home. You will have to complete some assignments offline, of course (primarily the reading of required texts), but typically your class assignments and course (instructor) lectures will take place in an online environment. You will sign in to 'virtual classrooms' - a kind of chat room - to hear (and see!) your instructor. Communications not handled in-class will be taken care of through e-mails.



One way in which distance learning programs differ from more traditional approaches is in the area of testing. The old approach, which stressed a kind of 'regurgitation' of all the course content in writing the exam, is typically not possible online as the student is not physically present in a classroom. This means that the student could look at their notes and text without impunity. So in distance learning programs you will instead complete research projects and collaborate with others on assignments. These types of activities actually force the student to take what they have (supposedly) learned and put it to good use - completing their research and course projects.



What all of this means is that distance learning programs put a premium on 'learning by doing', not the rote regurgitation of bare facts. I believe that adults who complete their studies through a good, solid distance learning program will be better prepared to 'hit the ground running' and make a solid contribution as employees in any company.

Article Source: Free Content Articles Directory

About the author: John Chaplin Writes about Online Learning and University of Phoenix. Learn more about obtaining your college degree at www.university-phoenix.com

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