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| Distance Learning |
For working professionals, students on a budget, or people who want to attend a particular school but are unable to move, distance learning can be an excellent alternative. Distance learning is less expensive, more convenient, and you can take lessons at your own pace.
How Does it Work ?
Most distance learning degrees are completed online. Some require you to meet in person a few times a year, while others can be completed entirely from home. Online classes often require you to complete a certain number of assignments and take computerized exams to prove that you’ve mastered the material. Depending on how much a distance learning degree attempts to “simulate” a classroom setting, you will either have to complete assignments weekly or at your own pace. Likewise, you may have to post on a forum to show that you’re engaging with your fellow students.
Some distance learning programs require you to set up teleconference or Skype sessions with your classmates to do group projects, while others demand that you do everything yourself. Some programs provide video lectures, while others give notes to help you understand your reading, while still others simply provide reading assignments, paper prompts and tests.
What Should I Keep in Mind ?
There are as many styles of distance learning as there are styles of classroom teaching, and it’s up to you to determine which Community College offers a style that fits you best. One of the great things about distance learning is that you can choose how your learning experience is going to look. Do you work well with others? Do you prefer to work at an erratic pace, or do you like the structure that weekly deadlines provide? Is the social-intellectual experience of school just as important as the solitary-intellectual? Do you learn better with academic guidance or on your own? These are just some of the questions you have to think about as you choose what sort of distance program you want to undertake.
How Do They Know We’re Not Cheating ?
There’s a saying, “you get as much out of life as you put into it,” and that applies to schooling as well. Just saying, you might want to rethink taking that exam open-book.
In addition, online exams and papers are typically structured such that you won’t be able to fake comprehension of the material. Short-answer questions, which require familiarity with the language and concepts in the class, are more common than multiple-choice questions. Of course, cheating is still possible, but distance teachers are aware of this, and will grade more harshly for any answers that smack of rote memorization.
Finally, some courses know that you’re going to be using the book while you test anyway, so exams are all “open-book.”
Where Do I Start ?
Because some distance programs require you to make an appearance at least a few times a year, it’s best to look at Community Colleges near your home. Check out their websites and see what they offer, look at class listings, and if the program seems to appeal to you, go for it. If you’re interested in a particular field, simply search through our listings for Community Colleges known for producing well-qualified graduates in that field, and look through the top five colleges’ websites. Every distance learning program is different, and some fit your learning style better than others. Because distance education provides such great opportunity, you should make sure to make the most of it and choose the best Community College for you!
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