Distance Learning – The Right Move for You?

By Edith Wright

Electronic education (e-learning), which today is analogous to Distance learning, has changed the way the world perceives education. Now, as never before, more and more people; who would otherwise not be able to further their prospects in the professional world through traditional education, may simply complete virtually any degree, course, certification or diploma, relative to nearly any field of study, at their own convenience and without ever having to step onto a campus at all.

Complete your basic education from an online high school or become an expert in your field of work with an online degree or PhD. Learn to use important software, or persue your lifelong passion. Anything you require, to further your employment prospects, get you a big raise at work or enrich you life in meaningful ways can now be achieved with minimal or no disruption to your daily life.

Distance learning from accredited online schools and colleges is considered to be education of a quality easily comparable to, and in many ways, better than traditional campus based learning. The trend has risen such that the number of people opting for distance learning courses is rising by 5 percent every year for nearly a decade, and by the fall of 2005, 96 percent of the colleges and universities in the US were offering online courses (amongst these are some of the best regarded traditional institutions like MIT and Yale) with some 3.2 million students benefiting (1). In 1999 a study concluded that, ‘Distance education is just as effective as traditional education in regards to learner outcomes’ (2) and in 2001, 56 percent of all domestic traditional learning institutions offered distance learning programs. An additional 12 percent of schools stated they planned on adding distance learning programs to their curriculum within the next few years (3).

This rising trend is evidence of the fact that today’s employers hold an optimistic-realistic and analytical view of distance learning, and what’s more? There is usually no mention upon a certificate, diploma or degree award as to how it was completed. An online degree, diploma or certificate is what it is – just as good as if you’d been studying on campus but without the inconvenience of having to work and live around lecture schedules, spending the additional time needed for commuting and the usual additional expenses inevitable to a traditional education experience. Just like in a traditional learning institution, you will have due dates for assignments, projects, papers, and tests and you would spend the same amount of time on homework, however, the added components of self-motivation and discipline are even more important.

Attractive as it may be, there is plenty of information prospective student must gain before they decide whether distance learning is right for them or before they choose an online college or course. We at schoolsgalore.com encourage prospective students/ trainees to thoroughly satisfy any doubts that they may have about the quality or validity of education provided by online universities colleges or schools that they explore.

Please find our list of accredited online schools, colleges and universities and our comprehensive A-Z guide to the various fields of study and the accredited courses offered online (which are accredited by either the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or both: unless explicitly mentioned otherwise).