Distance learning: advantages and disadvantages

DISTANCE LEARNING: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at a school. Traditionally, this usually involved correspondence courses wherein the student corresponded with the school via mail. Today, it usually involves online education. A distance learning programme can be completely distance learning, or a combination of distance learning and traditional classroom instruction (called hybrid[3] or blended). Massive open online courses (MOOCs), offering large-scale interactive participation and open access through the World Wide Web or other network technologies, are recent educational modes in distance education. A number of other terms (distributed learning, e-learning, m-learning, online learning, virtual classroom etc.) are used roughly synonymously with distance education. One of the earliest attempts was advertised in 1728. This was in the Boston Gazette for "Caleb Philipps, Teacher of the new method of Short Hand", who sought students who wanted to learn through weekly mailed lessons
The first distance education course in the modern sense was provided by Sir Isaac Pitman in the 1840s who taught a system of shorthand by mailing texts transcribed into shorthand on postcards and receiving transcriptions from his students in return for correction. The element of student feedback was a crucial innovation in Pitman's system.[6] This scheme was made possible by the introduction of uniform postage rates across England in 1840.
This early beginning proved extremely successful and the Phonographic Correspondence Society was founded three years later to establish these courses on a more formal basis. The society paved the way for the later formation of Sir Isaac Pitman Colleges across the country.
The first correspondence school in the United States was the Society to Encourage Studies at Home which was founded in 1873.[9]
Founded in 1894, Wolsey Hall, Oxford was the first distance learning college in the UK
Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning
Distance education is a concept that has gained significant popularity over the past few years. Distance learning programs have helped many students who are unable to attend campus-based or full-time courses to realize their educational aspirations. With distance education, learning instruction is disseminated over the internet through an online learning portal or video conference software. Such video conference software as ezTalks Cloud Meeting offer robust tools that can help instructors deliver full lessons to students from all over the world. But just like any other education program, distance learning comes with a set of pros and cons.
Distance learning might not be the best choice for every student seeking to pursue a college degree or university program. Thus understanding its advantages and drawbacks can help one decide on whether or not it is the right program to pursue.
Advantages of Distance Learning
1. Greater Flexibility
With distance learning programs, students can pursue and complete their desired courses from anywhere with the use of computer and internet connection. A larger percentage of those that enroll for distance education are actually persons who are working. Distance education allows such students to find convenient time to study without interfering with their already busy schedule. One can study after work, in the middle of the night or during weekends. Learning materials and instruction can actually be obtained online at any time. So working students can learn as they earn.
2. No commuting