The Life of a Distance Learner (part 1)

liberty-distance-learning-good-one.gifDistance learning has gained a considerable following among busy professionals and resident college students, as well as parents who wish to further their education without sacrificing time spent with their families. Even students who attend class at a traditional campus are more often choosing to register in additional classes online.

With so much buzz centering on the growing popularity of online education, it’s important to understand the differences between completing courses within an online setting as opposed to within a traditional, on-campus setting. While there are obvious similarities between the academic structure followed by distance learning students and those who pursue a traditional on-campus education, certain unique characteristics definitely set online learning a part.

Demographically, a typical distance learner averages between the ages of 26-40 years old, and is often either a professional in a particular career field or is actively pursuing a specific career. To date, no solid data exists supporting the premise of distance learning being either more male or female driven in enrollment, but there is a definite pull toward the distance learning format within single parent homes with children. Most distance learners are already computer savvy, an important skill as distance learning courses utilize the computer as its main tool. To begin with, there is registration itself, most often completed online through the academic institution’s website. The registration process involves selecting the desired courses, and then contacting the student’s assigned academic advisor who then liaises with the financial advisory department to determine that the student is well versed with the fees and tuition schedule. The same office may also process financial aid. The financial aid office for most online classes accepts major credit cards and checks, either online or over the phone. Others also generate a bill, which is then mailed to the student. Once full payment is received, the student’s information is relayed to the technical department, which then releases access to the student website where the distance learner can login. Upon login, a personalized student account page may welcome the student, providing them with access to personal account settings where they may update information such as phone numbers, addresses, and email information. There is also another portal, which acts as a scorecard for the student, and records their academic progress.

February 18, 2008 · Filed Under Distance Learning, Misc

Comments

One Response to “The Life of a Distance Learner (part 1)”

  1. The Life of a Distance Learner (part 2) | Ron Kennedy | Enrollment Management for Distance Learning on February 22nd, 2008 6:01 am

    […] Click here to read Part 1. […]

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.