UET Online Magazine

Suggest the idea of continuing your education and most people picture themselves in a classroom setting. However, non-classroom settings – distance education – has been around for centuries: think “correspondence lessons” by print material mailed to students in the 19^th-century United States.

Centuries ago, students may not have had a choice but today distance learning is a popular and common option because of its flexibility and varied offerings. In 2022, more than 5 million college students were enrolled in at least one distance education course, according to Statista.com. That’s more than 54% of post-secondary students. A quick look through the Union Education Trust’s school/course search feature shows the many remote/online courses available to members and educational institutions that offer them.

“Schools can really create dynamic online learning experiences for students,” said Leah Matthews, executive director of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).

There are two aspects to consider with distance learning: 1) Are you a good fit for distance education; and 2) Is the program you’ve selected a good fit for you? If those answers are yes, use your UET benefit to support your educational goals.

Distance education could be either synchronous – where a course is offered remotely at a set time and the students and instructor gather together online – or asynchronous – where the material is made available for a student to access it and study when they want to. While all continuing education requires initiative and dedication on the part of the student, distance learning entails even more. How does a student know if it is right for them?

“I suggest that they give themselves honest answers to ‘attitude’ and ‘aptitude’ questions,” Matthews said. “Ask yourself: ‘Am I a self-directed, highly motivated person; am I independent enough to get through this?’”

In other words, if there is no set class time, will the student create the structure to ensure that they do the work? “Adult learners who consider themselves to be self-starters and more independent tend to thrive in an environment that provides a balance between flexibility and structure,” the DEAC website explains.

“And for aptitude: ‘Do I have the technology expertise and am I comfortable in an online environment, submitting work online?’” Matthews said. “Answer those questions honestly if a distance education program is going to be effective for you or not.”

The advantages of distance education are flexibility, cost savings, and accessibility. Flexibility includes students fitting their studies to their schedule – around employment or family needs – as well as the ability to take courses from educational institutions based in any location, and maybe only online! Because of less overhead costs, distance education courses may be more affordable than in-person instruction. Distance learning is more accessible to learners who do not need to make travel or child-care arrangements.

The disadvantages can be a difficulty adjusting to virtual interactions, accessibility issues with technology, and carving out the time for studying. Distance learning creates challenges for students who prefer face-to-face interactions with fellow classmates and the instructor. Online communications between students and the instructor for feedback and instruction may require more structure and discipline as compared to an in-person setting where there is constant give and take within a physical classroom. Technology has opened up many new ways of delivering instruction – consider social media outlets, podcasts, and videoconferencing – but can be a hurdle to students who need to learn how to use computers and their applications or don’t have Internet. Fortunately for UET participants, gaps in computer knowledge can be filled by utilization of the Computer Application Training Program (CAT), click here for more details.

Last, time management skills are even more relevant for distance education students. Students learning in an online environment have to pace themselves and motivate themselves to focus on their classwork.

These challenges can be addressed by a strong distance education program that has resources to aid students, Matthews said. The main way to determine if a distance learning program meets a high level of quality is accreditation. As DEAC defines it, accreditation is a private, voluntary, non-governmental peer-review process that reviews the educational quality of an institution or program. DEAC accreditation of distance education institutions is a feature that UET looks for when vetting schools that participate in the program. (See “The Importance of an Accredited Institution: UET Standard Ensures Quality for Participants”)

“It’s in the learner’s best interest to make sure the program of study they are interested in is accredited,” Matthews said. “The first step is to verify the accreditation status.”

Accreditation assures that the educational provider has quality programs of study and effective instructors as well as high-level facilities and equipment.

After confirming accreditation, there are other factors to consider.

“Check the transparency of the costs, enrollment obligations, and technology needed to participate,” Matthews said, adding that the student should check that they have the technological equipment to be successful. “Look for clear disclosures: what time will class meet, with what regularity?”

New or first-time students should look into what support services are offered.

“What are the services that are available to you as a student?” Matthews asked, suggesting students find out what help-desk and learner support the school offers. “You won’t want to search to find those resources when you are in the middle of completing an assignment.”

In addition to technology support, does the school have laptops or equipment that students can use or borrow? Is there online tutoring and academic support? These services will encourage distance learning students’ success.

Distance education continues to evolve and improve, Matthews said. Many online courses are using artificial intelligence to individualize education, she said.

“Adaptive learning models are deploying AI in creative ways. There is some really wonderful material out there across the spectrum of subject areas,” Matthews said.

For example, a self-assessment tool could adjust how the student proceeds through questions based on their answers. If a student answers incorrectly, the assessment would pivot to more basic content to help build up the knowledge base and student’s confidence, Matthews said.

“AI and generative AI are going to play more prominent roles in online settings,” Matthews said. “A lot is being discovered about how we should use AI in the classroom.”

Distance education has changed a great deal in the last five years, let alone since the 19^th century. Consider your “attitude” and your “aptitude” to decide if taking a distance learning course using your UET benefit is a good fit.