What is Distance Education

Nowadays, we need to keep learning throughout our lives. Most of us are likely to change jobs regularly, and so have to update our skills or learn new skills as we move to different organizations and positions. A well-educated workforce whose members are constantly renewing and enhancing their knowledge and skills is essential for the future development of knowledge-based societies.

If you have not already done so, you are encouraged to become a lifelong learner and thus accept the idea that your knowledge and skills will evolve over the years.

Lifelong learners need opportunities to study, whatever their background, and for many this need can be fulfilled through open learning. Open learning is based on the concept of allowing all applicants entry to courses, regardless of their educational qualifications.

Distance education

Distance education has experienced phenomenal growth worldwide in the past few decades, partly in response to the need to educate lifelong learners who are unable or unwilling to attend regularly scheduled classes. These learners want independence and flexibility in their studies, reflecting their lifestyles and their need to continue working while they are studying. There are now literally tens of millions of people studying at a distance around the world, in both developed and developing nations.

Distance education allows you, as a learner, to study while physically separated from the institution at which you are enrolled, through the provision of learning materials and support that enable you to study anywhere and at any time. There may be a limited number of scheduled classroom tutorials, but in general these are not compulsory, so you can complete your course of study without having to set foot in the institution. This has been made easier in recent years through the introduction and growth of communication technologies, leading to the advent of what has come to be known as 'online learning' or 'e-learning'.

As you may already realize, distance education has many advantages and strengths. It allows you much more freedom in your study, in terms of:

• Timing - you can study whenever you like;
• Place - you can study wherever you wish;
• Duration - you can study for as long as you like; and
• Pace - you can study as quickly or as slowly as you wish (and go back over learning materials as many times as it takes to understand them).

You may have noticed people studying distance education materials on a bus or train, for example, thus taking advantage of a short journey to go over some reading, write notes or complete an activity. The need to travel, either for business or pleasure, can be easily accommodated when studying at a distance, as learning materials are transportable and communication can be achieved online, for example through email.

Are you likely to face any difficulties in studying at a distance? Certainly, many of the potential communication problems which existed in the past have largely been eliminated through advances in technology, such as email and the Internet. However, you should be aware that, as a distance learner, you will need higher levels of self-motivation and self-organization than are usually required for traditional classroom-based education. Distance education demands that, to a large extent, you are independent and self-directed. Though you will have a timetable to work to and deadlines to meet, it is up to you to find (make!) the time to keep up with the course requirements. If you fall behind, it is very hard to catch up, so be prepared to be self-disciplined in your studies.

Duncan Mcd is an editor for local magazine in his country. Come visit his website over at lavender hand soap and moisturizing hand soap where he loves to write about some beauty product as his research in health related things.