Distance learning offers learners a huge range of benefits, including greater access to degree-level qualifications. If you’re thinking about joining a distance learning course but you’re not sure if it’s right for you, the information in this guide should help you decide.We’ll talk about what a distance learning course is, how it can help you reach your goals, and what to expect.
How does distance education work?
Simply put, any type of learning that occurs when students are “at a distance” from the individual, organization, or institution instructing them is referred to as “distance learning.” Let’s dive a little deeper to find out more.
Distance learning: a short history
You might be surprised to hear that distance learning has been around for quite some time.
In the 1840s, British educator Sir Isaac Pitman created the first distance education course. By exchanging transcriptions via post, he taught students across England a shorthand system.
The University of London asserts that it was the first university to offer degrees through distance learning. It pledged in 1858 to give exams to students who took correspondence courses.
Wolsey Hall in Oxford, the first UK distance-learning college, opened in 1894. The inception of the Open University in 1969 represented a significant milestone in the evolution of distance learning in the 20th century. Through correspondence courses, the Open University provided learners with degree-level credentials. A significant amount of distance education went online in the 21st century as technological advancements accelerated. Teachers and learners were able to use digital communication tools like Zoom to interact virtually. Meanwhile, the creation of online learning platforms like FutureLearn supported course delivery and participation.
Today, online learning is considered to be part of ‘the new normal’ in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to our 2022 “Future of Learning” report, 33% of survey respondents would prefer to learn new skills through online platforms. In the meantime, 81% of people who switched careers since the pandemic claimed that taking an online course helped them.
Is distance learning different from online learning?
There is a subtle but significant distinction between the concepts of distance learning and online learning, despite the fact that the majority of current discussions about “distance learning” tend to relate to learning supported by technology. A wide range of physical and digital methods, such as written correspondence, email, instant messaging, and video streaming, are available for the delivery and execution of distance learning. On the other hand, “online learning” only refers to learning that takes place online. Ultimately, online learning is a form of distance learning.
Are distance learning courses recognised?
Even though online learning is becoming more common, you might be curious about whether a degree earned through distance learning will be recognized in the same way as a degree earned through a traditional classroom setting. Our research indicates that since the COVID-19 pandemic, 75% of employers are more likely to hire applicants with online education. Meanwhile, online education is seen as “very” to “extremely” helpful by 44% of managers during the interview process. Leading educational establishments teach and oversee a large number of online learning courses. Other distance learning courses offer partial accreditation that can count towards a qualification from a specific college or university.
How does distance learning work?
The provider and the course determine how distance learning works in large part. Today, many distance learning courses are conducted mostly – or entirely – online. As a result, there is a good chance that learning will involve one or more of the following activities: Watching pre-recorded videos
Attending live online lectures
Participating in live online discussions with tutors and/or fellow learners
online one-on-one discussions with your instructor Exchanging emails and instant messages with your tutor and/or fellow learners
Completing digital tests or assessments and submitting them online
Completing written assignments and submitting them online
Distance learning courses with a correspondence element will include one or more of the following:
reviewing the postage-paid course material completing assessments or written tests and sending them to your tutor via mail Writing essays or other assignments and submitting them to your tutor in the post
Some distance learning courses will involve a combination of all of these activities.
What are the benefits of distance learning?
Distance learning offers learners a vast range of benefits. Here are just a few:
Flexibility
Many distance learning courses allow you to learn at your own pace; you can access the material when it’s convenient for you to do so and learn whenever your schedule allows. While some courses have defined term times and course delivery dates, you have the flexibility to participate from any location where you have an internet connection.
Possibilities for learning From course content to duration and learning level, there’s a huge variety of distance learning courses available. You can even take an undergraduate degree or master’s degree course through a distance learning provider like FutureLearn. Since attending a traditional university isn’t for everyone, distance learning makes degree-level education accessible to a wider audience. You can choose your course and provider with distance learning without being restricted by location. It can also be easier to fit learning into a busy work or life schedule when there is no need to travel. Affordability
Distance learning doesn’t require you to pay for travel or move to another location. When you consider the total financial cost of a three- or four-year undergraduate degree, this can make a significant difference. The chance to upskill
If you’re interested in upskilling to improve your career prospects, distance learning is an efficient and effective way of doing so. You can fit upskilling activities around a full-time job or other commitments by enrolling in a number of low-cost distance learning courses. The opportunity to build transferable skills
A wide range of useful transferable skills can be developed through distance learning. These include working independently, using technology effectively and navigating the challenges and opportunities of a remote work environment.
These abilities will not only be useful to you when you start your own business, but they will also be useful to employers now and in the future.
Is distance learning effective?
The idea of learning and working from home has mostly become accepted since the pandemic. However, now that in-person learning is back in operation, you might wonder if distance learning is a viable alternative. This is not a brand-new query at all. In 1999, psychologist Thomas L. Russell compared the outcomes of distance learning to those of classroom-based learning by analyzing over 300 reports and studies. These outcomes included learners’ achievement, attitude and satisfaction.
The main finding was that the educational outcomes of the two learning methods were not significantly different. Russell dubbed this the ‘No Significant Difference Phenomenon’. Similar conclusions have been reached by numerous subsequent studies. While every distance learning course – and every distance learner – is unique, this body of research indicates that distance learning can indeed be effective.
How to get started with online education The abundance of options available to students is one of the many advantages of distance education. From course content and qualifications to methods of learning and course providers, there’s a lot to think about. If you are unsure how to begin, follow our advice. Choosing a course for distance learning While the prospect of digging into all the options might feel a little intimidating, it’s important to do some research before investing your time and – in some cases – money into distance learning.
Here are some things to think about:
Why would you like to learn more about something?
Do you want to earn a specific certification or credit toward one? How much time do you have to devote to education? How much are you willing to spend on a course that can be taken online? What is your preferred method of instruction? How much do you want to interact with your tutor? How much interaction would you like with fellow learners?
What is your financial budget for distance learning?
It should be a little bit easier for you to narrow down your options once you have given these questions some thought and considered them. Take the time to read through course descriptions and any reviews from former learners carefully. Make sure you understand the following information: The company or organization that offers the course The degree or credit you’ll get for finishing it successfully If relevant, the professional body accrediting the course. If your course leads to a specific career, like engineering or accounting, this is especially important. For instance, the British Psychological Society (BPS) grants accreditation to many of the online psychology degrees offered by FutureLearn.