The World of Distance Learning Systems

Getting Started with Distance Learning Systems

It is all about distance learning, and they are actually making education accessible to everybody. Anywhere you go you can have your degree at your own pace and convenience. That is what Distance Learning Systems, Inc. (DLSI) tries to preserve and maintain over the years.

And not only that, Distance Learning Systems offer a live, interactive and structured learning scheme that is perfect for those whose schedules do not warrant for a conventional classroom.

Online tutorial, to say the least. And its students become tutored learners in return. They undergo a series of online tutorials with DLSI, and administered with a team of medical practitioners. Even so, they have one of the nation’s highest passing rate with 97%.

Compared to home study programs, however, DLSI offers a more personal online training to its students.

As in the case of their nursing courses, where a high percentage of nursing students have passed standardized tests since DLSI equips them with test-taking skills.

Aside from that, they are offering free nursing seminars to further enhance the capabilities of their nurses come employment time.

And because of that, most of the grades of their students are in A to B levels than the usual B to C standing as have been observed in other schools.

DLSI understands that a tutorial is much more effective than a large-scale classroom because it has a more concentrated effort on learning.

It also creates the notion of making these aspiring nurses to be more independent. Learning the lesson away from their instructors make them more responsible with their studies. A trait that has its merits when it comes to nursing work.

DLSI is hitting two birds with one stone. Not only are they foremost when it comes to distance learning, they are also leading the nation as a major contributor of skilled nurses.

Benefits of Distance Learning Systems

Distance learning, more commonly known as e-learning, is simply a formal and structured education over the internet. Its biggest selling point is the ability to learn and teach despite time and location, a big difference to classroom instruction. It is also less expensive compared to traditional schooling and the time is flexible. This type of learning system is more beneficial than it sounds.

Cost efficient. Distance learning is widely known for its low cost. It takes out the usual traveling and housing expenses that one usually spends on when going to a traditional school. Miscellaneous fees that traditional schools impose are also taken out.

Broad communication system. Because distance learning takes out the geographical constraints, people who enroll in this learning system are exposed to different cultures and personalities. It also allows interaction with international schools that offer such education online. Although most distance learning systems are done one-on-one, the availability of networking makes up for the absence of classmates.

Quality learning. The experience that distance learning provides is different from traditional schooling. Students are given free reign to do their course works and modules, providing them the ability to review and re-learn topics that they find difficult. This practice leads to student motivation and satisfaction.

Unique experience. Since people differ in learning styles, the use of advanced technology in distance learning is truly helpful. Learning experience is enhanced when education is done in a different number of ways—modules could include a variety of videos, audio, presentations and the like. It not only enhances experience, but interest as well.

Opportunity. There are cases when students cannot apply to traditional schools. Examples of this include people with disability, illnesses or behavior problems. Distance learning systems allows them to continue learning in the comfort of their homes while at the same time, they are being provided with pretty much the same services traditional schools offer.

Difficulties in the Success of Distance Learning Systems

The widespread of the internet has created various distance learning systems that came up with excellent educational outcomes. This new learning system, though advantageous, has several challenges to overcome.

Over the past several decades, different hurdles have left distance learning systems inferior to its equivalent – face-to-face learning. Some of these challenges include the difficulty to change presentations to suit audience, inability to control teaching progress, and lack of learning styles. But the biggest one is the “keeping up” pace of communication.

One of the most important aspect of an effective learning process is the need to have a two-way (teacher and student) communication. Ever since e-learning began, a big issue has been thrown upon teachers and students. Each one cannot effectively ask or answer questions, frustrations, and comments.

A secondary issue in distance learning system is the absence of student to student interaction. In a traditional classroom setting, students are grouped with other students to share and contradict ideas. Subjects such as philosophy, language, and debate require a peer-to-peer communication for effective learning. With the lack of this kind of interaction, distance learning may just be defined as a mere transfer of information, without the true learning experience.

Today, these challenges still exist both in distance learning systems and in a classroom setting where there is a large crowd of students and a single lecturer. However, with the rapid acceleration of modes of communication in the distance learning programs, a large portion of these hindrances have been overcome. Real-time video classes for instance, a small group of students can benefit through chatting, online libraries, practice modules, and a feedback system that provides rapid response to teachers and co-students as well.

Most of these challenges may have been solved, but it is still existing. However, we all agree that these challenges are continuously being addressed effectively.

Distance Learning Systems History

Distance education has been utilized even before the telephone, television or the computer was invented. It has existed already since the 19^th century. The founders of distance education utilized the most effective technological innovation available on their day.

Distance education was created to create possibilities to individuals who desired to study, but were unable enroll in standard schools. Individuals who took advantage of such distance learning education included individuals with physical handicaps, ladies who were not permitted to register for educational facilities open only to men, individuals who had jobs during regular school hours and people who resided in distant regions where educational institutions did not exist.

Isaac Pitman, an Englishman, is considered as the early founder. He started educating shorthand by distance learning in Bath, England in 1840. Learners were required to copy short passages of the Bible and send them back for rating using the new penny post system.

American higher education level distance education started in 1874 at Illinois Wesleyan University where bachelors and graduate degrees could possibly be acquired in absentia.

The teaching of educational and vocational classes by distance learning became very popular by 1900. However, issues on good quality and ethical exercise arise, giving bad reputation to some of the schools offering distance learning. The National Home Study Council (NHSC) was established in 1926 partly to deal with these problems. Certification of college and university distance courses fell to the National University Extension Association in 1915.

The creation of educational radio in the 1920s and the introduction of television in the 1940s open a new means of distance education. Teachers made use of these technologies to transmit educational courses to countless students, thus stretching learning chances past the walls of standard teaching institutions. The introduction of efficient long-distance phone systems in the early 1900s also improved the capability of distance educators to get to new student populations. However, telephone systems never performed a notable part in education until the release of new teleconferencing systems in the 1980s and 1990s. Teleconferencing systems made it feasible for instructors to speak with, listen to, and see their students live – that is, without any setbacks in the transmissions – even if they were situated across the nation or around the globe.

Distance education more and more uses mixture of various communication systems to improve the relevant skills of teachers and students to talk with each other. With the spread of computer-network communications in the 1980s and 1990s, many more people acquired usage of computers associated with telephone lines, permitting instructors and students to communicate in meetings via computers.

Quality Distance Learning Systems

Distance Learning Systems today has been an important means of gaining knowledge and acquiring a degree without attending a traditional classroom and paying higher tuition, transportation, boarding etc. However, not all schools offering this program are offering a relevant and effective curriculum.

A good Distance Learning Program must be, of course, relevant and updated. The content must be significant to the course and must be suited to the online environment. Every module must be in connection to the course objectives. Students must not be perplexed whether the content is in connection with the course they enrolled in or not. A great distance learning course leaves no ambiguity within the students mind concerning how content is applicable to the objectives. The course must be planned properly and must be using a great approach since online learning is different from traditional classroom set up.

Teachers must be able to engage students on the more personal level. As distance learning gets to be more ubiquitous, teachers and college managers shouldn’t forget how they can personally and properly engage students. The approach is different in making students involved with the topics and discussions. The instructors must be updated with the latest tools and software to best meet the interests of the students.

The instructors of a quality distance learning system must have proper training in managing an online classroom. They must be aware that students have difficulties in focusing on the course since they are away and distractions are everywhere in the internet. The management must be able to supply enough support to the instructors; supplying enough tools, references, trainings and sufficient budget to fully develop and continually improve the program.

Distance learning is a mode of providing education and training, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a conventional setting such as a class room. Distance learning systems provide “access to education when the source of information and the students are separated by time or distance, or both.” Nowadays, online learning, usually in college-level, where students work on their own at home or at the office and interaction with faculty and other students via e-, digital forums, video chat, message boards, instant messaging and other forms of computer-based communication. Most distance learning systems include a computer-based training (CBT) program and communication tools to produce a virtual class room. Because the World Wide Web is accessible from virtually all pc systems, they serve as the foundation for distance learning methods.

The first online learning course in the modern era was provided and developed by Sir Isaac Pitman in the 1840s, who taught a system of shorthand by mailing texts transcribed into shorthand on post cards and receiving transcriptions from his students in return for correction, the element of student feedback was crucial advancement of Pitman’s program.

There are different types of distance learning systems:

Audio Based – It is distance learning method utilizing one-way or two-way interaction. This includes everything from radio broadcasting and phone conferences to pre-recorded audio CDs.

Video Based – There are two basic types of video distance learning courses:

Prerecorded Video – videotaped courses are sent to students who can view them at an off-site location.
Two-Way Interactive Video – Satellites, cameras, and computer monitors allow teachers and/or students at another website.

Internet Based – Web centered applications require a web based accessibility and little else. Students of online distance learning applications often receive training through websites, email, digital forums, and messaging systems. These applications generally offer the same program as on-site applications and usually come with an adjusted price tag. Perhaps this is why internet distance learning is becoming so popular. Distance education and learning technologies are separated into two ways of delivery: synchronous learning and asynchronous learning. In synchronous learning, all members are ”present” simultaneously. In this regard, it appears like conventional class room teaching methods despite the members being located remotely. It requires a schedule to be organized. In asynchronous learning, members access course materials flexibly on their own schedules.