Ryan Larson asked:


Distance learning can be defined in many different ways. Distance learning can be classes taken over the Internet, Web TV, cable TV, correspondence course, audio conferencing, CD-ROM, videotape or any other mechanism that allows a student to learn without traveling to a traditional classroom. These programs were first developed to assist people in remote or rural areas have access to the same education as people living in the major centers.

Today people of all ages and from every area of the country are involved in distance learning because it allows them to learn from home at he same time as they carry out their other responsibilities in life. Homemakers, veterans, even senior citizens are joining teenagers and young adults in these new and non-traditional learning programs.

There are is as much of a variety in distance learning programs as there are people who wish to advance their education. Most are associated with a regular school, college and university, and that allows them to offer accredited online degree programs. Others are completely separate companies that have been formed for the express purpose of providing distance learning programs.

You can take a course in the basics of plumbing from a technical institute or an advanced course in quantum physics. It really depends on your interest and aptitude to learn. Very, very few distance learning programs are free of charge, but some offered by community colleges are significantly lower in cost than the major colleges and institutions.

In distance learning like so many other things in life you pay for a brand name, like a prestigious university program, and you also get what you pay for you.

Some programs advertised through mass e-mails or by direct marketing are really very basic courses dressed up to look like more than they are. One quick way to determine the value of a distance learning program is to check if they have been approved and accredited by one of the national or regional accreditation agencies.

Distance learning is a great way to learn, but if your online degree is not accredited at the end of your studies then it may not be worth what you think it may be.

Look for the accreditation stamp of approval before you sign on the dotted line. Then take your time to review all of the options and find one that will not only get you an online degree but one that will open the doors of opportunity to you and your family

Jay Moncliff asked:


ay’s job market, a bachelor’s degree often isn’t enough to give you the edge over other job applicants. However, getting your MBA at a local college or university may be just too much for a full-time breadwinner with a home and family to care for. There are still ways to advance your education, though, and one of the most popular is getting your MBA through distance learning. Distance learning via internet is a relatively recent phenomenon. Usually, a student will enroll in an online university and take the all of the classes online.

Sounds like a great deal, right? There are many pitfalls for the distance learner. Be sure to choose the right school. As with every other category of business, there are good and there are not so good distance learning programs. Don’t waste your time and money on a school that is not accredited by a nationally recognized agency. Your diploma needs to be from an accredited university or school to help you advance, so do some homework up front and check the credentials of the school. They should be accredited by one of the nationally recognized agencies (New England, Middle States, North Central, Northwest, Western and Southern). These are the valid accreditation agencies. Verify that the classes are all online.

Don’t enroll in a distance learning program across the country, only to realize later that you’ll need to attend one or two sessions in the classroom. Check out the technical capabilities of the classes. Are the classes available through technology that you can access, like websites, email or bulletin boards? Will you have to use complicated, proprietary software? Steer clear of programs that are not simple and easy to use. After all, isn’t that why you want an online degree program. Just in case there are problems, make sure that technical help is available when you’ll be working. Look for programs with a proven track record.

Even though the idea of internet learning is new, you should look for a program with a good success rate an satisfied graduates. Ask if you can email or talk to some of the graduates, or read recommendations. Ask about the school’s completion rate. Does the school offer adequate financing? If the school is accredited, they should be able to participate in the federal student loan programs and offer financing to distance learners. Finally, investigate who is teaching the classes. Do they have experience in online teaching? Managing a virtual classroom is different that teaching the typical college course, so the teachers should be experienced in this type of learning.

Of course, distance learning is not for everyone. In order to succeed at this type of coursework, you will need to be self-motivated and dedicated to getting your MBA. You will need to be organized and disciplined. Procrastinators have a difficult time working at their own pace, because they can always finish an assignment “tomorrow”. Of course, this can turn a 2-3 year program into 6-8 years. Investigate online distance learning to pursue you MBA, but first, make sure that you are ready to commit to self-directed learning.

Riley Hendersen asked:


Today’s highly competitive work environment requires experience, dedication, and education in order to compete and succeed on a level playing field. A college bachelors degree, which was once an option, has now become a necessity for those who wish to find success and continue to move ahead in their career of choice.

But for some, earning that degree can be extremely difficult because of work or family obligations; driving to and from a school environment and sitting in class can be next to impossible to achieve. In these cases, the opportunity to earn a distance learning bachelor’s degree can put a college degree back into the realm of possibility for nearly anyone.

A distance learning bachelor’s degree is earned just as a traditional bachelors degree aside from the place it is completed. Just as traditional college students choose classes, pay tuition, purchase books, and complete course work outlined by the class syllabus, distance learning students are required to do much the same.

The only difference is the manner in which the course work is completed. Those earning a distance learning bachelors degree choose the classes they need to receive a predetermined number of credits. They also pay their tuition by the semester and are often required to purchase books based on the syllabus set forth by the professor.

However, the work completed in the process of earning a distance learning bachelors degree is done on the student’s own time and in a place that is convenient and comfortable for them. Often, the class professor will outline the course work that must be completed throughout the course of the semester; the time and manner in which the students complete it is reliant upon them.

Because of the popularity of the distance learning bachelors degree, many online universities offer the opportunity to earn a degree in an ever - widening list of subjects - everything from management and business to communications and finance. No matter what your course of study, chances are you can have the opportunity to earn a distance learning bachelor’s degree.

However, it is imperative that you do your research regarding distance learning courses to be sure that the degrees that they offer are accredited. The U.S. Department of Education offers an online college search option allowing prospective students to determine the level of accreditation held by the school. Some traditional colleges and universities also offer an online component through which non-traditional students can earn a distance learning bachelor’s degree at their own pace.

The traditional college or university setting is not for everyone; in this day and age of busy work and family schedules, more and more non-traditional students are looking for ways to receive an education in a manner conducive to their lifestyle; and educators are taking notice. Today’s students luckily have access to a variety of educational resources - including the earning of a distance learning bachelor’s degree - from the comfort of their own home; making education within reach to all manner of students.