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Alberta Distance Learning Article
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Disadvantages Of Distance Education
from: Kyle BesserThere are some disadvantages to distance education, but they are far outweighed by the advantages for distance education.
Costly Distance Learning Technology
Distance education opens many opportunities for people to continue with their educational goals, but there are inevitable accompanying costs. For online education distance learning, you must own a computer or have access to one and have access to the internet. The computer you use will also have to have the capacity to handle the online education distance learning media used to present the online education distance learning material. This could mean upgrading the computer, online education distance learning software, the accessories, the internet access and the bandwidth speed, especially if audio and video online education distance learning software are involved. This will likely involve an added monthly expense.
Complex Distance Learning Technology
Some learners may be afraid of distance learning technology or not have an adequate understanding of the distance learning technology that will be used. Some find working with computers very frustrating. All these can be overcome if one really wants to take distance education courses. The advantages gained would be worth the effort.
Feedback
Distance learning does not always offer immediate feedback. In a traditional classroom setting, a student's performance can be immediately assessed through questions and informal testing. With distance learning, a student has to wait for feedback until the instructor has reviewed their work and responded to it.
Incomplete Online Programs
Distance learning does not always offer all the necessary courses online to complete a program. Students pursuing a specific certificate or degree program may not have all the necessary courses available through distance learning, so it is not suited for all subjects. You can complete a history degree completely online, but you cannot perform nursing clinicals online. Thus physical classroom attendance will be mandatory to complete some programs.
Non-Acceptance
Distance learning may not be acknowledged by all employers. Although most employers do acknowledge distance learning, some employers do not. Students who want to work for a specific employer upon graduation should be sure of that employer's perspective about online education.
Lack Of Oral Communication
Distance learning does not give students the opportunity to work on oral communication skills. Students in distance learning courses do not get the practice of verbal interaction with professors and other students.
Social Isolation
Most of the time, you will be studying alone. Distance learners may feel isolated or miss that social interaction that comes with physically attending a traditional classroom. This impersonality is changing with advances and use of communication distance learning technology such as bulletin boards, threaded discussions, chats, e-mail and conferencing.
Motivation
You will have to be the one to motivate you to complete the course work. You will have to comit the time and effort needed to complete the assignments.
Based on your unique circumstances, you should compare the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning over traditional education and decide which one is right for you.
Distance-Education Online News
Learning when to park it - Lethbridge Herald
Learning when to park it Lethbridge Herald Dobbs is also a director of research at the Department of Family Medicine, Division of Care of the Elderly at the University of Alberta. She said statistics show that crash rates by distance driven - the amount a person drives per year - starts to ... |
Learning how to dance in the rain - Sooke News Mirror
Learning how to dance in the rain Sooke News Mirror He joined an Alberta-based company offering a competitive salary and excellent benefits in May 2011. Dezall has been able to pay his monthly mortgage payments and make ends meet by accepting eight-month construction contracts. His temporary new home is ... |
Canadian schools falling behind in online learning, report says - Globe and Mail
 Globe and Mail | Canadian schools falling behind in online learning, report says Globe and Mail Canadian schools have failed to embrace the internet and are falling behind in the number of online learning opportunities available to students, according a report released Monday. Web-enabled distance education holds particular appeal for Canadian ... |
Long-promised Ontario Online Institute still far from launch - Toronto Star
Long-promised Ontario Online Institute still far from launch Toronto Star A two-month feasibility study commissioned by Queen's Park by Maxim Jean-Louis, chief executive officer of the Contact North distance learning network, noted that in 2008-2009 there were more than 20843 courses and 787 programs offered online in ... |