Distance Learning

Is Distance Learning a good thing?

The Bad...

Distance Learning gets a really bad wrap. It use to be thought of as a terrible substitute for getting a real education. This is understandable, there are so many people who take online classes because they don't have to go listen to lectures and they are supposedly, "easy". I can see where they are coming from, from the outside they look like a joke, just sign into you class, take a quiz where you have the answers, and you are done for the week. The problem with these views is that they are incorrect.

The Good...

Distance Learning is good because it allows students to get use to using technology in association with schooling. I am personally taking an online class and before I could do anything in the class, I had to get acclimated with their server and technology. After being in two online classes for only 4 weeks this summer it dismissed the ideas that they are "easy". These classes that I am taking are harder than most classes I take in the classroom. My online professors are really interactive and expect a lot from me. They both have weekly assignments, quizzes, discussion board responses, research papers, book reviews, and test. I feel like by having these classes online it allows me to do my classwork on the weekends when I have time. I know that it is sad that at the age of 22 I am doing classwork on the weekends, but it is happening.

Overall...

Distance Learning is huge in my opinion. It is allowing me the opportunity to take classes that weren't offered here at Auburn. More importantly it is giving me a change to graduate in August instead of December. Being able to graduate in August has given me the opportunity to get a job. (which happened yesterday) These online classes have let me take classes that I was not able to on campus because of time conflicts and has allowed me the chance to make some money, instead of losing even more with another semester in college.