Distance learning online has become the ultimate hi tech alternative to the old school classroom teaching.
What is distance learning?
Distance learning as a term is normally used when talking about teaching-learning where the student is located in one place in the world and the school/teacher in another place.
Why use it?
There are many good reasons why a school would choose to use distance learning or e-learning.
1. The school has students from a large geographical area. And to be able to increase this area (and the number of possible students), without the need for a bigger campus or more dorms, the online long distance study methods works very well.
2. The school has multiple campus areas, located at large distances. This is one of the newest ways of using distance learning. The student actually is located in a campus area, but as the school has several campuses and the student (and teachers) would have to travel for hours to reach each one of them, the classes have been altered into distance learning experiences.
3. Fewer teachers. This is possible as a teacher without travelling can teach in several places around the country (and the world) without leaving his or hers own room!
Tools used
There are many different levels of technical tools as well as teaching methods applied when using distance learning.
Everything from email and a simple bbs , to streamed live video and advanced meeting areas where students and teachers can work together in an interactive way.
Tests and work papers can be mailed or fetched and re saved via filesharing directly from the schools servers.
And by combining things like high resolution webcams and skype, the cooperation can be taken to a completely new and never before seen level.
There will be a lot of advancements in the area of distance learning in the future. Who knows, your kids may even have the option to take some classes from home, using tools integrated in your tv in the future.
Juan di Santo, http://www.distance-learning-courses.net/
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