Distance Learning Courses – Bridging Distance by Riding on Technology
By: samantha desouza
Submitted: 2011-03-03 00:23:20 | Word Count: 591
Several reports in the recent past have confirmed the noteworthy popularity of distance education and predicted its overwhelming success throughout the globe in the coming decades. Undoubtedly, the innovatively designed contemporary mode of learning has set a global trend in the arena of education. The modern day distance learning courses heavily rely on the advanced technology to embrace a larger pool of candidates into the sprawling fold. So, let us now focus on the implementation of technology as an instrument of instruction delivery.
Distance Learning Courses: Importance & Impact of Technology
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Prior to dive into the discussion on the Importance and Impact of the cutting-age technology in the distance education, let us tiptoe back to the origin of the off-the-classroom learning. Conducting classes without involving the brick and mortar institutes was a fresh idea for all and feasible option for many. It was just like an out-of-the-package thinking with an eye to extending the reach of education to all and sundry. In true sense, the distance learning courses have aptly globalized education by surpassing (better to say effacing) the invisible geographical boundary. The course materials are either sent by post or collected from the study center in person. These centers also arrange a face to face conversation between the professors and learners and such an arrangement is referred to as doubt-clearing session. However, with time rolling by, the students strongly felt the need for regular interaction with the teachers. The concept of creating a virtual leaning ambience popped up and has been successfully painted with the convincing color of reality of late. The distance education evolved with a revolutionary touch of online learning. Being jammed with a plethora of advantageous features, online education is an innovative intake on the distance education system. While pursuing distance learning courses, both the teachers and takers can easily communicate via net. Therefore, the distance gets dissolved within a blink of an eye on strength of technological progress.
Distance Learning Courses: Involvement of Technology
Two basic modes of communication have been introduced to impart instruction – synchronous and asynchronous. Whether the mentors and pupils are meeting via net at the same time or not is the only feature to differentiate between these two types. Distance learning courses conducted through the synchronous method involve live interactive training. A student can get to see his/her fellow students as well as the teachers. Of different interactive systems, the instructions television fixed service and point-to-point microwave are the most popular ones. Real-time computer communication and audio conferencing also exemplify the synchronous communication to conduct the distance learning courses.
The asynchronous communicative system relies on the recorded materials for instruction delivery. In this innovative approach, the participants are not required to log in the same time. This mode uses broadcast television and other electronic media such as audio, video, computer software for the effective communication. Of all the techniques utilized in asynchronous system, broadcast television is extensively used in higher learning. The other asynchronous methods include fax machines, computer networks, bulletin boards, electronic mail, voice mail etc. Distance learning courses are offered in multiple domains though the MBA courses are the most popular of all. As practical training is a part and parcel of management education, so special and scrupulous care is taken to harmonize between the theoretical teachings with hands-on experience.
