Distance Learning Allows You Flexibility in Obtaining Education
At first glance, deciding to attend a School of Continuing Education through online classes or through print-based correspondence may seem as though it will put you at a disadvantage. You don't have the traditional classroom environment, which allows for projects and such, nor do you physically attend campus to learn. However, this option actually comes with its own distinct set of benefits.
Distance Learning is a popular option for those who have a host of responsibilities that may prevent them from traveling to campus for class, those who can't afford to travel back and forth between campus and their homes, those whose work or family schedules won't allow for spending hours in class, those who prefer to learn on their own and the list goes on.
One school that offers this type of education is Centennial College in Toronto, Ontario. Having facilitated the option for a number of years, Centennial's programs are respected and its delivery format has been refined. Firstly, students may attend courses in a virtual classroom to which they have 24-hour access. These students complete assignments, may use discussion boards to enhance their experience by talking to other students, have access to their instructors via email and complete their final exams on-campus. Similarly, those who choose Print-Based Correspondence also take their final exams on campus. However, during the course of their program they complete assignments that were mailed to them in the mail, communicate with their instructors via telephone and study totally independently aside from having a tutor assigned to them. This person is available to assist students should they require help.
Here are some distinct benefits of Distance Learning:
- Flexibility: Those who attend online classes can study virtually from anywhere they have Wi-Fi. That means they can take their laptop with them to work and study on their breaks or at a quiet café while sipping a latte. Meanwhile, those completing print-based classes can take their printed assignments with them anywhere they go as well.
- Self-paced learning: Students have the opportunity to glaze over the materials with which they are familiar and focus on areas that contain new information and skills. This allows them to pace themselves as they wish. If students wish to spend one week on a chapter they may do so. If they wish to spend two days on a chapter, there is no one to prevent them from doing so.
- To partake or not: If students of the online classes wish, they may jump on the Internet and partake in classroom discussions on discussion boards. This gives them the opportunity to ask questions, swap ideas and engage in conversations with their instructors. However, they are not obligated to do so as they would be in a traditional classroom setting.
- Accessibility: Students who may have restricted mobility (for example, those whom are handicapped, injured or elderly) can complete their course materials without worrying about how they will get to campus and around campus.