Before the invention of the internet and proliferation of emails, people used to take a correspondence course in any given subject through what we now refer to as snail mail. The length of time it took one to finish a course was largely dependent on the speed of regular mail. But slow as it was then, people took their preferred correspondence course without complaining too much and finished the program within the prescribed time period. This type of getting an education appealed to so many people because it was convenient and time saving for them. Those who could not find the time to attend regular classes in school because of work or other personal reasons were able to finish high school, college or a special course and went on to become successful in their chosen careers. All it took them was to receive lessons, textbooks, test papers by mail, complete their assignments and send them by mail also to their appointed instructors or teachers, who in turn corrected them and sent them back to their students.
This system of distance learning, as correspondence course is also known, continues until today, although at a much faster pace, thanks to computer technology and the internet. Anyone in the world can obtain the type of education they need as long as they have a computer that has an internet connection. They can send and receive the lessons and examinations instantaneously at the click of a button. The speed of communication may also depend on the type of internet connection but it wouldn’t be more than a day away, unlike snail mail which used to take days if not weeks for the materials to arrive. Now you can get entire books delivered in digital format, using your computer to read it, take notes, make comments, answer test questions, and communicate your ideas to your teacher.
There is virtually no limit to the type of knowledge that you can obtain through correspondence course. Even well known, traditional universities have opened their doors to students around the world through their digital portal – their websites – where students in all levels can enroll in the correspondence course of their choice, receive instructions and lesson plans, and send back whatever they need to submit to their instructors. This type of learning however is not for everyone, especially if they are more used to the traditional type of learning program in a classroom. You would need to learn how to use the computer, how to navigate the World Wide Web or the internet, and use software or computer applications such as a word processor, spreadsheet and a database program. You will use these applications to open the lessons, read them, write your answers and for any kind of communication with the school or your instructors. Self-discipline will also play a major role since being self-directed, you have to make sure that you stick to your own study time table and submit the requirements within the allotted time. You may need to ask for the cooperation of your other family members so they can let you have the space and the time you need to complete your correspondence course on schedule.
The trend seems to be that of a growing demand for more courses to be offered through distance learning that even some education experts are of the opinion that there will come a time when people will be attending virtual classrooms all over the world where all top professors around the globe can share their knowledge and teach students without the limits of a physical room.
A word of caution however, to those who are planning to enroll in a correspondence course – you should always verify if the program you are enrolling yourself has the proper accreditation from recognized institutions as otherwise, you could end up finishing a course that is not recognized at all and you would have just wasted your valuable time and money.
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