Picture This: You’re sitting in the comfort of your home, connecting with the greatest minds in the world to study a subject you truly enjoy.
Sound too good to be true?
Well, not with distance education! Distance education is a form of learning that is mediated by technology, enabling students and teachers to connect remotely and create value.
The best part?
It doesn’t require the teacher and the student to be physically in the same place.
This simple proposition unearths several advantages for students, teachers, and the education ecosystem at large.
Wondering how?
Read on to discover the numerous advantages of distance education and why it is a discipline that’s worth your time.
Here Are the Advantages of Distance Education:
Let’s put it out there in simple words – distance education is a fountain of opportunities for students.
It helps students access locally-unavailable courses and learns from the best minds in the business.
All along, they pick up crucial digital, networking, and communication skills.
Following are some of the advantages of distance education:
Distance Education Can Be Undertaken at Any Age
Let’s face it: Sitting in a classroom with people a decade younger than you isn’t very appealing.
That’s where distance education is a savior!
For those of us who haven’t had the privilege of studying extensively in our younger years, distance education offers us a second shot at that coveted degree or diploma you missed doing.
There’s no judgment, no visibility, and certainly no malice in distance education.
It’s that simple.
The internet is wonderful that way! You are just another student in your digital classroom with no scope for differentiation.
Distance Education Allows You to Be the Master of Your Schedule
There are two kinds of people:
The early birds and night owls. And both are perfectly suited to distance education.
Study from anywhere, study at any time, and be the master of your day – this is possible with distance education! Distance education allows you the freedom and flexibility to plan your time your way.
If you find yourself most productive and efficient at odd hours of the day or night – distance education is your true calling!
It Overcomes Geographical Barriers
The right to education and the right to equality are basic human rights in today’s world.
Distance education is a stalwart in that sense. It gives students a chance to study at prestigious colleges abroad.
The best part?
You don’t have to relocate to get access to your favorite university!
Distance education allows you to learn from your desired institution abroad without moving from the comfort of your home.
What’s not to love?
It Allows Students to Pursue Other Opportunities Alongside Education
We’ve all done it.
Working odd jobs, running community errands for pay, earning allowances from household chores – anything to bag that extra income!
Earning that extra buck while studying has never been easier than with distance education.
Distance education allows students the freedom to manage their time and take up jobs anytime during the day without disrupting their education.
Distance education also allows students to pursue other hobbies or passions to find their true calling. As studies can be taken up at any time of the day or night, there is plenty of time to do other things!
It Bridges The Gap Between Demand & Supply
“Accessibility allows us to tap into everyone’s potential” – Debra Ruh
This American businessperson certainly knew the power of accessibility – just like distance education!
Imagine having access to education avenues absent in your country – think diplomas in ethical hacking, food flavoring, or even oceanography!
Distance learning bridges the gap between demand and supply, enabling students to get access to education avenues that aren’t available locally.
There’s a taker for every service, they say. The idea of distance learning upholds this viewpoint.
There Is No Discrimination in Distance Education
Students going to other countries to study may face racism or discrimination. This is one of the biggest concerns for parents sending their children abroad to study.
In a shocking piece of research from a YMCA poll in the UK, 49% of students believed that racism was the biggest barrier to their academic achievement.
Distance education does away with this. With the elimination of in-person classes, there is very little scope for students facing discrimination or racism.
Here’s another way to think about it.
As distance education does not require relocation, it prevents several possible chances of facing racial discrimination even outside of the classroom in a foreign country.
Opting for distance education is the safest way of enjoying the best of both worlds.
Distance Education Gives You Access to the Best in the Field
Are you wondering what the best part of distance education is?
It gives you access to the best lecturers, speakers, and thinkers from across the world!
People you typically cannot access through a conventional in-person education system are easily available through distance education courses offered by prestigious institutions worldwide.
It Helps Increase Your Circle of Networking
What could be better than sitting in the comfort of your home and learning from global thought leaders?
Distance education gets you connected with people from across the world. Individuals with different social, cultural, political, and ethnic backgrounds come together on a common platform.
These associations are often outside of the classroom to create enriching relationships.
This network dramatically helps your professional endeavors through references, job opportunities, and more.
Distance Education Broadens Your WorldView
“It’s not what you look at that matters; it is what you see” – Henry David Thoreau
Let’s draw a parallel between this great saying and distance education.
Distance education allows us the opportunity to see things from an entirely different perspective than what we have been conditioned to see in our environment.
Experiencing diverse cultural backgrounds, learning about different approaches to subjects, and mixing with students from around the world, distance education sure does broaden one’s worldview.
Distance Education Is Lighter on the Pocket
Here’s the harsh truth: Education costs are getting higher with each passing year.
Distance education is like a breath of fresh air in such a situation.
Distance education is an affordable option compared to traditional in-person courses – lectures can be recorded and re-used, lighting & transportation overheads disappear, and relocation isn’t necessary.
The flexibility of time allows learners in distance education to take up part-time jobs and support themselves. This goes a long way in early financial independence, prudence, and better overall money management.
The bottom line is – Distance Education is the supersaver you didn’t know you needed!
Distance Learning Makes Teaching Easier
Imagine this:
A teacher going on maternity/paternity leave or unable to access an in-person classroom for medical reasons but still mentally fit to teach.
What could be a bigger loss than that?
Distance education is a great mediator in such situations as it allows teachers to conduct classes from the comfort of their homes while recovering from medical interventions.
It makes teaching much easier as it eliminates long hours of standing and constant speaking. Pre-recorded classes are a common occurrence in distance learning, preventing teacher burnout.
It’s a win-win for both teachers and students, we think.
It Helps You Find Your True Calling
The more you try, the more you know.
This phrase couldn’t be more apt for distance education.
Wondering how? Let’s dig a little deeper.
That hard-to-find online robotics course, the coveted data analysis program, or that popular online creative writing course – all help you discover what you are good at.
If you never had the chance to do a distance education course on a new subject, you would never know that you’re actually good at it.
Here is some food for thought – distance education helps you find a fulfilling profession.
Distance Education Is Inclusive
It is about time the world became more inclusive for those with special needs. Distance Education is a big leap in that direction.
Let me explain how.
Distance Education is a boon for specially-abled people with limited mobility, allowing them to access classes from the comfort of their homes. Students with hearing impairments can also slow down the recording and take their time to absorb the subject.
What’s more, classes can be downscaled for those suffering from learning or attention disorders. One-on-one plans can be charted out, suiting the pace of those with cognitive disabilities.
There are no prizes for guessing how impactful distance education can be for those with special needs.
Distance Education Strengthens Your Technical Skills
Here’s the truth: Online literacy is the need of the hour.
From slide presentations to e-mail correspondence and discussion boards, distance education opens up a whole new world of learning technical skills that are missing in in-person classes.
According to a recent research, 80% of the surveyed companies believe that they will need more employees to have technical skills, with a majority of these companies admitting that re-skilling their existing staff with technical skills is a priority.
If you’re looking to hone technical skills through your education, you know distance education is the obvious choice.
It Helps Student Become Self-Starters
Push Yourself, Because No One Else Is Going To Do It For You!
This quote couldn’t be more apt for distance education.
In other words:
Distance Education enables you with the power to be the self-driven, goal-oriented individual you know you can be.
It helps you with the all-important skill of time management.
You control your success as you are in charge of your classes, schedule, and submissions! What can be more empowering than that?
Conclusion
And this brings us to the end of our blog on the advantages of distance education. We shared our thoughts, but we would like to know – what’s your take on distance education?
Does it bring value to our life? Would you choose distance education for yourself or your child?
Leave us a comment and tell us why you think distance education is a great idea.
We can’t wait to see what you have to say!