Learning away from Home Made Easy by Print and Online Programs and Courses

06/03/2014 12:48

Parents would say that education is the greatest gift they can give to their children. When the time comes for college, some young adults have other commitments that pull them away from higher education, whether it is taking care of financial constraints or family reasons. Even other adults can experience the same dilemma, and more, with employment layoffs. However, these road blocks don’t have to be excuses to delay or stop achieving a diploma.

 

With good time management and support from schools, avid learners can apply to a variety of programs. Postsecondary institutions offer part-time courses and programs away from their campus, called distance learning, to give flexibility to students who have competing priorities. This is a revolutionary way of studying, since students attend classes in the convenience of their own home. In fact, they can do their schooling anywhere they prefer. There are two ways to deliver the classes.

 

1) Print-based learning
Students must be very independent to pursue print-based learning. Lectures with the professor cease to exist. Instead, students must absorb content from textbooks and course handouts. The school materials are couriered to the student’s home, and the student can study from these printed materials. Depending on the course, some may have online requirements, where students have the option to view lectures on the computer, and complete some work online. However, most of the assignments will be done in print, where the student will mail their completed work to the college. Major tests and exams are takenin school grounds or verified test centres to ensure validity.

 

2) Online learning
Requiring the learner to have certain computer system requirements and have some basic computer skills, online programs and courses can be an easy way of studying. Lectures are recorded and can be viewed anytime, while course materials can be delivered rapidly. Additionally, some lectures may be viewed live, so students can ask questions during the class time, without having to travel outside their homes. Similar to the print-based method, students must take exams in college-approved sites, so confidence in test scores is not put into question.

 

Time and effort are needed from students who attend regular classes, so having classes away from campus is not much different. However, students have to be more discipline and focused to follow their schedules, since they are given the freedom to take classes off-campus. Also, they would need to have some computer requirements. However, the benefits of this type of studying outweigh the challenges. Flexibility is an important gateway to completing work, as students can do their studies on their own time, their choice of study space, and on their own pace. Also, this is generally less expensive than attending school, where several campus fees are added to the tuition fee. The same quality content is delivered, and professors are still open to questions and feedback by e-mail or other online interactions.

 

Education does not have to be put on the backseat. With Distance Learning, students can study on their own schedule and terms, through print-based programs and online learning. Students enrolled in this type of schooling have the independence to make their life choices and to prioritize their affairs.