The Concept of Distance Learning

The Concept of Distance Learning

The concept of distance learning is nothing new and has become popular over the years. Higher educational institutions are now utilizing this concept and are offering more online classes. As a result, more people are choosing to pursue a higher education in a non-tradition classroom manner. However, there are times when people misunderstand what the distance-learning concept entails. The location, the flexibility, and the utilization of material and resources are considered when interpreting the concept of distance learning.

Distance learning allows people to attend classes from a location that is not the physical classroom. The location is one of the most important aspects when it comes to distance learning. Using the internet, students are able to attend an on-campus course from a completely different geographical location than that of the teacher. Students are able to overcome the distance cause by the inability to travel, to uproot from a home, low finances, and the fear of losing a job. Distance learning is especially appealing to adult student, “most of who[m] are engaged in the world of work”, as they are able to keep their jobs and stay with their families wherever the world they may be, and attend school at the same time (Bjorner 21). The cost of traveling, commuting, and changing residence are miniscule when distance learning is compared to the tradition college experience. Students from anywhere in the worlds are able to choose for a range of accredited institutions, attend classes, and “earn an academic degree without ever physically seeing … classmates or professor” (Bjorner 21). The classroom for the distance learner can be in the home, the office, the library, a café, or anywhere that has an internet connection. Distanced learning has given people a way to choose their own classroom, a way to learn and grow within their own environments.

The flexibility aspect of distance learning is the main driving force for the...