Distance Learning

It wasn’t long ago that getting an education meant you lived on campus at a college or university, slogged your way to classes every day and pulled sleepless all-nighters in the library to prepare for a big final exam.

Today, technology is changing the very face of traditional education. Thanks to the Internet, virtual classrooms and even live video conferencing, students all over the world can get a quality education without even opening their front door.

“Online learning is a great opportunity to get that collegial experience, interact with like-minded and interested students from around the world, and advance a career within the safety of an environment you can create,” says Tina Parscal, PhD, provost at University of the Rockies, a graduate school with both on-campus and online programs.

What Is Distance Learning?
Also known as online learning, distance learning is becoming an increasingly popular way to learn, thanks to the convenience and flexibility it provides. Freed of geographic constraints, you can attend institutions that would otherwise be too far away. With the right program, you can conceivably study at a college or university halfway around the world, right from the comfort of your own home.

For those with hemophilia, distance learning can be an especially attractive option—you don’t have to worry about a bleed keeping you from making it to class on time, and you can more easily schedule your academic commitments around any doctor’s appointments or health emergencies that may come up.

A Growing Trend
Worried that staring at a screen instead of sitting in a classroom might make you feel detached from the experience? Not to worry, says Parscal. “People think that it’s just e-mail or it’s like a chat room or that it’s isolating, but it’s not like that at all,” she says. “More and more institutions are looking at things like gaming and using simulations and rich media in courses. It can be very interactive, very community-based, and very collaborative.”

If you think learning online is easier than an in-class experience, that isn’t the case. In fact, a study by the U.S. Department of Education found that students who took all or part of their classes online performed better, on average, than students taking the same course in a traditional face-to-face environment.

“The neat thing is, distance learning courses tend to be very well designed — they’re intentional and based on outcomes,” Parscal says. “They build in opportunities for reflection. If you’re sitting in a classroom, you raise your hand and get put on the spot, [but in distance learning,] you can pause and think about the question, read it again and then post — it builds in that opportunity to have a well-refined response.”

Who’s a Good Candidate?
Distance learning isn’t for everyone. Different people have different learning styles, and for some, the experience of attending a college or university in person works better for them. If you’re someone who craves the social aspects of college life that comes with being on campus, attending sports events and being part of a fraternity, etc., online learning may not be for you.

On the other hand, if you’re good at getting things done (even without someone standing over your shoulder), you want the flexibility that comes with studying on your own timeline, and you’re skilled at processing written information, distance learning may suit you well. “It’s not easier, it’s not less intensive, and it’s as rigorous as a face-to-face course,” Parscal says. “The best students are the ones who are self-directed and motivated.”

What to Look For
Online learning has gotten a bad rap from “diploma mills” and other places that aren’t accredited but still offer degrees they can’t confer. When looking at distance learning programs, make sure the ones you’re considering are accredited, or else the credits won’t transfer and employers won’t recognize any degree you earn.

Another reason you want to find a legitimate school is for the financial aid. If your school is accredited and you need help paying for it, you may be eligible for government assistance and other aid in your country.

“When an individual is looking for a traditional campus based or nontraditional program, in addition to questions like looking at accreditation and quality of faculty, students should look for what types of academic support are available,” Parscal says. As with a regular campus, the best online programs will provide students with career counseling, tutors, and faculty advisers who can help you map out your academic plan. Just because you’re doing the work from home doesn’t mean you should be left to your own devices when it comes to navigating your school experience.

Even if your physical health seems limiting at times, finding ways to forge your own career path and challenge your mind will improve your mental health—which, in turn, can only help your overall health.

“Achieving goals and being able to see those benefits really enhances an individual’s optimism,” Parscal says. “Finding success leads to a positive outlook and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.”