Are there benefits to distance education?

PROS:

CONS:

    Classes and programs are available to students who cannot attend in person
    Saves students time because they don’t have to travel to classes
    Often cheaper than location-based classes
    Often offers more flexible scheduling
    Less likely to be subject to class-size restrictions (i.e. classes available to more students)
    Less interactivity and support than traditional classroom learning
    Students must be self-motivated and self-directed
    Most programs require knowledge of and access to computers, Web browsers, email, and word-processing programs
    Some programs require continuous access to the Internet
    Students miss out on benefits of classroom attendance, such as getting to know the instructor/ other students, and group discussions of views and opinions[2887]

BEWARE: Distance Education programs can vary in quality and legitimacy (quality of instruction can be low, credits/degrees may not be recognized by other schools or programs). Some programs are outright scams. (For information on how to tell if a program is a scam, see Choosing Your Educational Path, PG. 849).

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    U.S. Dep’t of Educ. Office of Vocational and Adult Educ., Take Charge of Your Future: Get the Education and Training You Need (2012). ↑