There are many advantages of distance learning including that this form of education is often cheaper due to the student not having to pay for on-site accommodations. Distance learning also opens up a wider range of courses to people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them. A student doesn’t have to worry about being left behind when studying at home because he or she can progress when ready. With the Internet, a distance learning student has access to almost the same resources as someone studying at a college or university.
One of the biggest advantages of distance learning is that there is no need to pay for accommodations or transportation. Studying at a physical university or college requires the student to live near the institution or at least be willing to commute there. This costs a lot of money which could otherwise be spent on courses, equipment, and study materials. The stress of moving to a new location without friends and family isn’t an issue with a home study course. A student may also be to access courses and training or degree programs that are unavailable at local colleges and universities.
The ability to study from anywhere in the world also saves time as well as money. At a physical educational institution, the student is required to attend at certain times of the day. This can be difficult to accomplish if a person has a job or other responsibilities. Distance learning courses can be completed at any time of the day in any location.
Another of the major advantages of distance learning is each student’s ability to study at his or her own pace. Classroom courses are run at a set schedule for every student regardless of individual ability. A distance learning course generally doesn’t have strict time limits, which means the student can progress when he or she feels ready. The downside to this is that some students may find it difficult to stay self-motivated.
There are a number of other advantages of distance learning. Studying at home is much more flexible than regular courses, so a student can fit learning around his or her lifestyle without major changes. The ease with which distance learning courses can be organized, especially since the advent of Internet learning, means that a student can access course materials, additional information, and homework assignments at a single click. Instant communication with course instructors or tutors is often provided with some of courses, which addresses the problem of a lack of support as compared to classroom learning.
