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What
is Distance Learning?
At
Lakeland Community College and our affiliated
universities, you can earn college credits
toward an Associate degree, Bachelor's
degree or certificate through various
Distance Learning Programs, i.e. Telecourses,
Online, TeleWeb, and TeleClassroom courses.
In Distance Learning classes, the majority
of instruction occurs when the student
and instructor are not in the same place.
Instruction may be "live" ("real
time"), or independent in time where
the interactions between students and
instructors are delayed, (for example,
the communications take place using emails
or discussion boards).
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Advantages
of Distance Learning
Many
Distance Learning options allow you to
conveniently take LCC accredited courses,
outside the limitations of the traditional
classroom environment.
For
example:
- Online
Courses can be taken from home, office
or any place where you have Internet
connection.
- You
have 24/7 access for the online learning
materials.
- Distance
Learning courses provide the opportunity
for busy people to fulfill their educational
goals and needs, with minimal interference
to work or family schedules.
- You
have greater control over the learning
process by customizing your learning
time in a way that best suits your
personal schedule.
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Pitfalls
of Distance Learning
Flexibility
and convenience do not mean Distance
Learning courses are easier and less
work. Many new Distance Learning students
are unaware of the amount of work and
time involved to successfully complete
a Distance Learning course.
Some
considerations regarding Distance Learning
are:
- Distance
Learning students sometimes can end
up neglecting the courses because of
personal or professional circumstances
unless they have compelling reasons
for taking the course.
- Some
students prefer the independence of
Distance Learning courses; others find
it uncomfortable.
- Distance
Learning courses give you greater freedom
of scheduling, but can require more
self-discipline than traditional on-campus
courses.
- Some
people learn best by interacting with
other students and instructors, but
Distance Learning courses often do
not provide much opportunity for this
face-to-face interaction.
- Distance
Learning courses require you to work
from written directions without face-to-face
immediate explanations by the instructor.
- Comments
from the instructor may take longer
to get as they would be via e-mail,
phone calls, or the U.S. mail.
- Distance
Learning courses may require more time
than a traditional on-campus course
if the student is unfamiliar with the
necessary technology.
- Online
courses, by nature of the delivery
medium, require you to have a basic
computer skill level and be comfortable
using a PC, the Web, and Emails. Individual
course instructors do not provide "How-To-Use-A-Computer" instruction
in addition to the intended course
content.
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