There is an old saying: Time moves on. That is certainly true in the world of education. In the past, higher education was strictly an option for the wealthy and privileged. Beginning in the last century, higher education became a reality for the common person. But the pace of change has not slackened up one bit! 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. For those of us observing the landscape in the U.S., of course, this has a particular relevance, because of the aging of our population. And an older population means older students - students who have already taken on significant life responsibilities (job and family). Distance learning is the best - and probably only - option for them. 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. Course testing in distance learning programs is also unique. Instead of the traditional approach, where you would 'spit out' on paper everything that you have memorized, you will be asked instead to complete projects and collaborate with others. This is because there is no way to administer a test online in such a way to guarantee that the student doesn't look at their book/notes to cheat! What all this means is that distance learning programs place an emphasis on 'doing something useful' with the knowledge that you have gained. You will be required to show mastery of a subject area, not by regurgitating facts but by using what you know. And isn't that exactly what you and I must do every day, in the real workaday world? In fact, by some measures, graduates of distance learning programs are perhaps better prepared to 'hit the ground running' and be productive in their career from day one.
Article Source: http://www.articlecontentprovider.com/articlesubmit
There is an old saying: Time moves on. That is certainly true in the world of education. In the past, higher education was strictly an option for the wealthy and privileged. Beginning in the last century, higher education became a reality for the common person. But the pace of change has not slackened up one bit!
Author: John Chaplin talks about Online Education and University of Phoenix. Read about obtaining online college degrees at http://www.university-phoenix.com Click here to get your own unique version of this article.
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 5 4 out of 5 3 out of 5 2 out of 5 1 out of 5
