Advantages of distance education

UNESCO’s current education principles are “Education for All” and “Lifelong Learning”. This approach is seriously limited by the practical and financial capacities of schools.

Distance education has become a solution to the pressing problems of education, and has built its own traditions and models, which are widely implemented at all stages of knowledge acquisition (from school and higher education to the corporate level). Wide development of information and communication technologies gave such a form of “new horizons” and made it possible to implement previously unavailable opportunities.

What are the challenges that distance learning is helping to meet?

1. The problem of distance and big cities.

And although almost any city has its own schools and universities, the most famous institutions that offer really high quality education are located in regional centers or the capital. In addition, many universities that will interest an applicant are located abroad. In this case, distance learning is a great opportunity to get knowledge, skills and a diploma. There is no need to move to a permanent place of residence, and the bureaucratic procedure of admission to a foreign educational institution is greatly simplified.

On the other hand, this form of education offers much more than the traditional distance learning form. In addition to tasks and teaching materials, distance learning provides for the expansion of classroom frameworks for students and teachers, intensive interaction and an effective form of control.

2. Time constraints

This problem is more relevant for those who combine work and study. In other words, for those who can not attend full-time classes, is and works in another city, but wants to get more than just a part-time form – it is ideal.

It provides not only a flexible program, but also the opportunity to work at your own pace, to allocate a few hours a day for processing and training when possible and convenient: during a break, after work, at the weekend, etc.

3. Price issues

Distance education is often cheaper than full-time education. Fee-paying education on the full-time department in a prestigious private school, not everyone can afford it. On the other hand, the administration does not need to spend money on rent and maintenance of educational premises, which inevitably reduces costs. All this makes it possible to offer more convenient conditions and an affordable price for education.

4. Quality issue

There are many schools and institutes that are famous for their achievements in a particular area. Often, this specialization of an educational institution brings it a significant proportion of pupils and students. The remote form allows to work with the best teachers, according to the most perfect program, to achieve high results even without being on the territory of the educational institution.

Of course, in this matter a lot depends on the student, on his ability to organize himself and master the material. However, for distance learning there are forms of control similar to face-to-face, it is possible to attend certain classes or sessions in person.

Features of Distance Learning

It should be noted at once that there are no two identical programmes for distance learning. There may be similar methods and forms, but in general learning will always be different. This is characteristic of any general or visitor school, where even with common standards and common requirements, actual learning is slightly different.

These differences stem from the natural needs of educational institutions, where there are actually different teachers, different academic schools, and different emphasis on areas of learning.

Distance learning has gone even further, teaching each student, in this system, is an individual and flexible process. And although all graduates meet formal requirements, there is an opportunity to build up their own curriculum, to master the material at their own pace, to focus on those areas of interest to the student.

It is this flexibility and adaptability that gives a huge advantage to distance learning, it not only optimizes the time and program, but also reduces the stress factor for all participants in the process.

More constant interaction and feedback from the teacher significantly increases the actual control over the material, provides an additional opportunity to help the student, allows him to explore the subject of interest deeper.

In fact, distance learning puts into practice what the traditional school seeks to do: to provide equal and comprehensive access to knowledge, to reveal abilities and talents, to instill the necessary skills and qualities. If we add to this the possibility of introducing all modern communication tools, innovative methods and best practices, we get the very form that can truly prepare a pupil or student, give relevant and up-to-date knowledge and skills.