Achieve An Online Degree Through The Various Available Distance Learning Courses

By Author: Roger Pointing
Total Articles: 225
Comment this article

The ideas and concepts of education have changed a lot over the years. Previously formal education without a classroom, students and a teacher could not be thought of. Now things are changing rapidly. Distance learning is in vogue today, especially for higher degree studies. You can obtain an online degree after the course gets completed and you clear the exam that follows. Things have becomes much easier and distances are no longer a barrier in pursuing education today. The best universities and institutes of the world have started operating distance learning courses for students who cannot afford to go there and study in person.

Interestingly, the technologies that are used and implemented in distance learning are mainly categorized into two parts - synchronous and asynchronous. As the name signifies, in synchronous technology a remote classroom is set with the help of web conferencing or video conferencing, internet radio, live streaming etc. In this the students of a particular distance learning course attend a virtual 'classroom' at the same time. You are in a classroom without being in an actual classroom. ...
... This technology does not allow much flexibility to students.

In asynchronous mode of study, there is much more flexibility for students in distance learning courses. In this, students can access their course information, study materials and other information from the institute's website. They can do it in their free time and there is no fixed time when you have to be present together at the same place. In the older times, correspondences through mails were the only way to communicate to the university or the institute from which you were pursuing distance learning course. With the advent of the Internet communication became much easier and people now communicate through emails, message boards, university forums etc.

The concept of online degree also became popular with time. If education could be imparted through distance learning courses, an online degree could also be provided to the candidate. After the students complete their course, they have to appear for an examination. There are some universities which still prefer to conduct physical examination by setting up examination centers in parts of the country or world. But most of the institutes and universities imparting distance learning programs are now shifting to online examination. It is easier for the students as well as the evaluators to complete the process of examination smoothly and most importantly in less amount of time.

Initially there were many doubts about the quality of distance learning courses and programs. They were not considered to be at par with normal standards of education that were offered in normal colleges and universities. Infact an online degree was also not valued as much as regular degrees were. But now things have changed drastically. People now understand the value of a degree, whether online or on a regular basis. However, you must always check each and every details of the university or the institute from where you plan to pursue your distance learning course before making a final decision.