Pros and Cons of Distance Education (Essay Sample)

Pros and Cons of Distance Education
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Pros and Cons of Distance Education
Introduction
Adoption of distance education is rapidly rising in prestigious institutions. It depends on various factors such as information technology and instructional systems. This system ensures acquisition of education by those students absent in a classroom setting. The system of education involves both electronic mechanism as well as printed papers accessed through email and other digitalized systems. The teachers and students communicate constantly at convenient periods ensuring online and distant attending of courses. The students have a freedom of making choice and changing their period and system of study.
Online education, one of the models of distance education, is interactive in its own manner. The students and the teachers interact in virtual classroom through mutual multimedia experience connecting the duo. With the help of such technologies, video lessons and video conferences among other prospective of learning are possible.
Pros of distance learning
Distance education contributes much to the education field. Nevertheless, it cannot replace the regular system of education. Firstly, distance learning minimizes the interference of the learners promoting efficient professional life. Importantly, the system is essential for individuals pursuing their further careers and those with special training requirements. Online distance learning is increasingly mainstreaming the universities in the United States. Secondly, some students work, therefore, cannot pursue their studies on regular basis at the same time. Under such circumstances, distance education become the only rescue enabling them enhance their skills as well develop their careers. In addition, the system is important for persons who wish to pursue their studies in specific prestigious universities, but due to want of finances and complications in inter government permissions they opt for distance education.
The experience gained through learning the new technologies, approaches and methods provide additional knowledge and practice. Such diverse knowledge is important in providing a wide scope of operation. Similarly, the planning of the distance education programs is easy since limited period and commitment is required. Furthermore, the system enables geographical flexibility.
Through an interaction platform currently developed by various institutions with the distance learning programs, the students experience varied cultures and origins. Importantly, distance education offers access to different faculties at several locations depending on personal and professional availability of the learner. In addition, with limited constant travels to and from the education centres, distance saves time.
Distance learning is beneficial for women and parents with kids, who do not have to make care arrangements for their young ones since they can do the duo at ago. The distance education has solved possible convenience concerns especially for the persons with disabilities and senior citizens with a difficulty of attending customized regular classes. Such individuals have developed more comfortable education systems in their residential environments. Periodically, the system benefits nonresident students seeking with interest in accredited courses from prestigious institutions located abroad. The system provides easy avenue to acquiring such degrees without hassle for visas to attend classes in the respective institutions.
Cons of distance learning
Regardless of the diverse advantages of distance learning, it also poses some weaknesses. The system is inadequate for everyone since it has no physical contact with staff and associate colleagues. Similarly, it offers no social interaction limiting the chances of networking, therefore, minimal career development. Individuals who work in interactive environment find it difficult to adjust to such model of learning. Due to limited interactions with the instructors, analysis of personality of students is minimal contributing to career misplacement. In addition, distance education limits choosing of disciplines since only limited courses are offered due to complex technology requirements for the other curricula.
The cost of distance learning is high due to the intricate technology involved. Other predictable costs such as video communication needs establishment and setting of equipment and services for efficient operations. Similarly, studies involving online learning require a computer and other accessories, a camera and access to internet. Notably, students and instructors ensure advanced planning of communication networks requiring adjustment of regular operations.
Distance learning offers no genuine response. An adequate feedback system involves constant assessment through questions and answers format that is impossible with distance education. In distance education, the student receives a feedback after the general evaluation of the work.
Conclusion
The existence of distance education dates back to twentieth century, however, it experiences huge rise due to current innovations in technology. With such innovations, the possibi...