What Is Distance Learning And Its Importance
The following article is about the various aspects of distance learning and how important a role it is playing in educating the students. The article also talks about the ways in which distance education is different from traditional s. De-merits of distance learning is also discussed.
What is distance learning or correspondence?
The process of learning and acquiring education from an institution which could be a college or a university without enrolling into traditional college is called distance learning or distance education. Distance learning is also called correspondence learning in many areas. Distance learning caters mainly to those who do not have the time or money to attend traditional colleges. For people who want to study after a long break also opt for distance learning.Role of distance learning
Distance learning has created a niche for itself in the field of education. It not only has promised to provide education but also has saved students who could not get admitted into traditional colleges from getting lost in the crowd without higher education or a college degree. Distance education has played a very important role in supplementing and helping impart education to the traditional system of learning. The number of students enrolling into colleges are increasing every year and it has become utterly impossible for traditional colleges to increase the seats and improve the infrastructure to meet the demands of the present state-of-affairs.
For students who want to work and study simultaneously, people who want to study after their kids grow up and for the people who do not have the means to attend college can always hope for the best through distance education.How does the system work?
Most of the distance education universities have a huge network of learning facilities which include the head office, regional centers and study centers. The head office is the place where most of the research is done and study plans are formed. Some universities also have audio and audio visual methods of teaching. All the study materials are handed to the regional centers from where they are taken to the study centers where actual classes are held. Some universities like IGNOU also help by broadcasting lectures through radio.Flexibility in distance education
Distance education provides a lot of flexibility to the students. Some universities like IGNOU(Indira Gandhi National Open University) also take the responsibility of enrolling the students and helping them pursue a degree in a Bachelor's course even if they have failed in their intermediate class. They help the students to pass their intermediate too. The students have the privilege of completing the graduation degree in their own sweet time. As much as 8 years could be taken to complete a bachelor's degree which is a lot of time. The students also have the facility of studying whenever they want to through the internet.Status of distance education in the market
The government sector or the private sector do not give much stress to the type of university one has completed his degree from. What matters to them is the degree and how qualified one is to the job. If they need someone with a degree in sociology then they would hire a person with the same degree no matter which university the degree was given by. Moreover, apart from the degree what is most important is the person's all-round knowledge and persona. There is no evidence that the students who have studies from distance education universities are not doing well. In the end it's knowledge, dedication and managerial skills that matter and not a college or a university.Distance education in India and Abroad
There is not much difference between distance education in India and other developed countries. With the advent of modern technology especially computers and internet, the techniques and methods of teaching and education are similar in all the countries, although the courses may vary from a country to another. IGNOU and Manipal University are two of the prominent distance education hubs of India. Some universities also have exchange programmes wherein people from a university go to another country to train and vice-versa.Disadvantages of distance learning
While distance education is favored by many students including adults and has many benefits to a society, it also has some disadvantages. One of the most prominent is the student-teacher relationship. Distance education lacks the most essential aspect of education which is the direct contact between students and teachers. A teacher should know a student personally to be able to teach properly. However, in these times this issue has been debatable owing to negligible number of students attending classes or even knowing their teachers' names in regular colleges.
A student attending a traditional college definitely has more friends and is more aware of the environment of college life.
Distance learning or distance education is here to stay. Despite some disadvantages, distance learning has a special place in the scenario of today's world. The number of students opting for distance education has been increasing year after year.