Distance Education is also known as distance learning, It is a form of education in which students don’t need to remain physically present at a university or college. The main element is the physical separation of teachers and students during teaching time.
Various technologies are being used for the communication between student and teacher and student-student as well. The main aim of correspondence education is to focus on nontraditional students like an individual who doesn’t have time to attend and listen to lectures in the classroom.
Distance Learning is useful for office goers, military personnel, and those people who live in remote areas. This mode of education helps educated and semi-educated persons to get degrees without attending class.
Apart from this such persons get a chance to enhance their knowledge as well as sharpen skill which would fetch them a better opportunity in future. Working professionals get a promotion and better package after completion of some short-term course through correspondence education mode.
Earlier correspondence courses came into force. In which students have to correspond with the university, college, or institute for any work. They had to wait for the reply. In the digital age, correspondence course has lost its significance. Currently, the correspondence education mode of courses is online.
Overview of Distance Learning Courses
Distance learning courses have taken a big jump. Thanks to the common use of the internet and other digital gadgets. At present, there are several kinds of correspondence education learning courses available like
Online Courses are simultaneously offered along with traditional courses at universities and colleges. It allows students to get an education from home. They attend the class live and listen to the lecture as well but remain physically absent in the class.
Hybrid Courses is a mixture of correspondence education learning along with traditional classroom education. Students have to attend some classes in person. They have to also attend online classes. The advantage of a hybrid course is to attend online classes and attend classes with a physical presence.
Conferencing is another mode of distance learning in which students can join an audio or video classroom with the help of Skype or some other digital gadget. Students get the opportunity to interact with an instructor and students.
Correspondence Courses are different ways of distance learning. Here students get all their educational material through the mail. In return, students have to submit their assignments or other works by mail. Everything is based online in correspondence courses.
Advantages of Distance Education
Distance education has gained a lot of popularity over the last few years. It helps those students who are not able to attend class full time due to some reasons. With the help of distance, learning instructors teach students through online learning portals or video conferences.
Video conference software is very useful for the instructors or teachers to deliver their lecture from any part of the world and students can receive lessons from across the world. This mode of education provides more information to students. They can also take decisions about how and where to study.
There are several advantages of Distance Learning courses. Some of them are given below:
Flexibility
The most important point is that students get a chance to complete their favorite courses from any place. They need to use their laptop and internet connection. Most of the working persons have enrolled themselves in this mode of education.
Distance education really helps such people to continue their studies without sacrificing their current job. Study materials and other gadgets are available online at any time.