Our civilization would not be as advanced as it is today were it not for the knowledge that we have obtained throughout the years. We have studied how nature works, learned to harness that knowledge to our best advantage and applied the principles we discovered to solve our most basic problems. However, the methods we used to disseminate this body of knowledge were not sufficiently efficient and fully effective at all times as there would always be some barriers to education that prevents us from reaching the right people. But technological development allowed us to develop other systems to make education available to all. Today, we are able to provide distance education to anyone who wants to acquire the right skill set and knowledge in order to advance their careers and succeed.
While opportunities for all levels of education are easily available and anyone can take advantage of what our educational institutions offer, there are people who cannot attend traditional schools to finish their education and earn degrees that will qualify them to apply for work in lucrative industries. Distance education can provide these people with the opportunity to learn new or advanced skills that can help enhance their present career or prepare them for a new one. New and traditional educational institutions are opening their doors to students from all over the world as they are developing distance education courses. The usual barriers to education such as physical distance between student and teacher are easily overcome by means of technology using computers and the internet. We can transmit educational materials –data, voice, and video – electronically in seconds; distance is no longer a barrier. Even printed materials can easily be sent by couriers, if needed. Education can occur even without face to face contact between student and teacher. With the proper use and integration of technology, such as videoconferencing, audio conferencing, and web conferencing, even adults who missed their first chance to complete their degrees can do so and finish their college education. The instructor can select the best one to use or mix them in order to meet the students’ needs while considering their effectiveness and economy of use. No physical disability, distance or lack of time can prevent someone who is determined to acquire any kind of knowledge through distance education.
There is no doubt that the traditional means of educating students work excellently, even as there are many inherent limitations and barriers. Being inside the classroom, students can focus more on the lessons with minimal interference from outside distractions. Teachers and students can respond and react to each other’s audiovisual cues which facilitate communication and understanding. Students can manifest their manner of reception of the subject matter and teachers can adjust their delivery method to meet the student’s expectations. There is no such interaction possible in distance education or only in a limited fashion through videoconferencing, but there are other ways by which it can be compensated.
Distance education may not appeal to those who are deeply steeped in the traditional educational system. They may also question its effectiveness and not accept it as readily as other system. Indeed, distance education requires the same dedication, if not more, essential skills and student application as anyone studying in a traditional school. You still need to be disciplined, self-motivated, self-confident and able to manage your time. No one can succeed without these qualities. It all starts with diligent planning of lessons on the part of the instructors or educational institution, which must focus on the distant students’ needs and course requirements. Once these are identified, the appropriate technology can be selected. While basically remaining the same as in traditional classroom lessons, it is up to the instructors to adapt and present those using appropriate strategies and delivery system.
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