Deciding to do an evening class calls for a high level of commitment and considerable sacrifice. The time it demands and the hours spent travelling to class is not always dispensable. We all face problems eking out spare time from increasingly tight schedules, whether it’s to family responsibilities, social demands or the return of Grey’s Anatomy, giving up a night each week is not always a realistic option.
So thank the heavens for distance learning which has developed impressively this century; firstly through the expansion of the postal service and more recently with the accessibility of the internet. The view that most distance learning courses are to do with business type qualifications is a stereotypical and misunderstood one. Today you can study for different levels of qualifications in subjects as diverse as Freelance Journalism and Landscape & Garden Design.
The most common method of accessing distance learning is usually CD-ROM and DVD delivery which is no longer as faceless as it may have once been. The bulk of distance learning was once of the asynchronous kind and so communication and interaction was at an absolute minimum between student and teacher. This has evolved of late with the increased modernisation of internet services. For example, virtual classrooms and instant messaging has meant that students can now have a much more personal and accessible relationship with their tutors. A lot of these courses now compile of a certain amount of face-to-face interaction, with tutorials and class discussion becoming more commonplace. It has moved on from the old-style correspondence course of the past, now making use of telephone conferencing, email, the Internet and video tuition to impart knowledge.
Another important change is that students are now considered members of the institution that is providing their course and so they are usually entitled to use all the facilities of the college. Most of the courses will have exams once or twice a year that will take place at the study centre.
Distance learning has grown in popularity due to its flexible and accessible nature. Enrolling in a traditionally run evening class would mean making a commitment to give up a certain amount of hours on a specific night; choosing the distance learning route will mean that you can make your own schedule. This is a huge benefit to some, but if motivation is a weakness of yours then you may have problems. It’s essential that you keep on top of your workload rather than give in to the many distractions you will face, i.e. turn the TV off and face your computer away from the fridge. If you think you can avoid the temptation and will be steadfast in your work then distance learning will be of absolute benefit to you. It immediately frees you of any geographical constraints you may have faced and means that you won’t have to uproot your whole life or family to get the qualifications you want.
An important element to consider when you are deciding on a course is the accreditation attached to it. If you get an email promising you an MA in two weeks, it’s a scam. Be aware and careful of any offers that sound too good to be true, as they probably are.
Don’t assume that a distance learning course will see you in your comfy slippers cosy in your living room with a cup of hot chocolate and a laptop; like any course there will be a great deal of work involved and will demand the level of commitment that any other evening class would…in saying that it is fast becoming the primary further learning option for thousands of people around Ireland.