Distance education – challenges and opportunities

Conventional classroom training is always the first choice among the students. This is mainly due to the popular notion that distance learning is only for those who do not have access to conventional learning due to personal restrictions. However, times have changed and technology has evolved – and distance learning has become more of an additional means of education rather than an ‘alternative’ to the convention.

In fact, learning can be enriched with the use of technology and distance learning is today more focused on imparting lesson by making appropriate use of technology such as virtual classrooms, remote sessions, webinars and lots more. Video conferencing and other such technologies make it more convenient for students to get in touch with tutors or vice versa to ensure that there is constant communication between the students and the professors.

Taking up distance learning courses not only adds value to your knowledge, but also adds – additional credentials to your list of achievements. It opens up new opportunities in education.

Despite all these positives, this type of learning is not free of challenges yet. Let’s take a close look at all the challenges and opportunities that distance education brings:
Challenges
Real time interaction and feedback
The very first challenge that needs to be overcome is the ‘real time’ interaction and feedback that students and teachers get in a traditional classroom training session is missing. The question and answer sessions are not interactive and engaging and hence there are a number of delays introduced in the system.

Self learning
Although the course material is designed by experts and quality course content is guaranteed, distance learning course material often focuses on self learning. It’s true that there are designated professors assigned to help clear doubts if any, but most of the time, learning completely depends on how well you can grasp the subject matter. It’s more about read it yourself kind of learning.

Use of technology
The use of technology enables students to log in to a video session of the lesson, but there are a number of restrictions to this kind of learning. The speed of the internet, the connectivity and mainly time restrictions are introduced in this kind of a system.

Opportunities
The future potential and the opportunities supersede the challenges that are discussed above. Distance learning will surely but steadily move into the realm of online learning in the future. Internet connectivity and flexibility in terms of time and location will be the main enablers for online learning. Students graduating from distance learning courses will also gain equal opportunities as those with conventional, and the degrees offered will be considered equivalent to those of traditional trainings.

Slowly, yet steadily, the gap between conventional education and distance learning is being bridged – technology being the strongest enabler. With distance learning, the whole world will be an open stage where students from any geographical location can take up a course or degree from any other part of the world at any time!