What is Distance Learning Education?

Defining distance learning starts by focusing on just what the word "distance" means. According to Cambridge's Learner's Dictionary, distance is defined as "the amount of space between two places or things."

In the Internet age, the distance between instructors and students who are earning distance learning degrees can be thousands of miles, across multiple time zones, in different cities, states or even countries.

The essence of any online learning program is making courses available on the Internet, bringing the classes to the students rather than requiring students to attend classes in person. If you are wondering what participating in distance learning is like, consider these following glimpses into how students participate online in their courses:

• Participating in online discussions and chat sessions with your fellow students and instructor instead of having to attend courses in lecture halls. You will also be watching videos streamed over the Internet, take exams through customized applications by schools specifically developed for the Internet, and participate in classes using toll-free numbers for conference calls.
• Completing team projects where yourself and teams of students meet together on the same website every week to discuss how to accomplish the goals of your projects and share research. You'll also be communicating and collaborating with other students using computer conferencing software, e-mail, chat and recorded video conferences from your instructor.
• Completing your homework independently at home and submitting it electronically to your instructor, via an online "drop box" just in time before the deadline, after which the drop box automatically closes.
• Using online research tools including databases and extensive collections of electronically stored documents to complete your projects instead of wading through stacks of books in a library. The Internet's many search engines and databases that schools make available to students replace trips to the library.
• Anytime you have a question for your advisor, simply e-mail them or see if they are available for an online chat or telephone call. Many academic advisors use Instant Messaging to communicate with their students.

Online learning has many parallels with traditional learning approaches including a focus on optimizing the student to teacher ratio, extensive teaching tools and online resources, and the extending of correspondence courses to being 24/7 in format and available globally.

Where do you choose the best distance learning degree programs?

If you are looking into earning a distance learning degree, quality education is important to your success. You want education only from accredited colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

We recommend you check out this list of the top online colleges that offer online degrees and courses. They are all accredited by one of the six regional or national accrediting agencies in the United States. This means you can trust them in furthering your education online. The degrees and courses these colleges offer will be recognized by your current and prospective employer.

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