JULY 25, 2014

What are the Pros & Cons of Distance Learning?

Distance learning is basically a way of disseminating knowledge, where the
educators and students are separated in distance or time or even both.
Undoubtedly, distance learning offers wide variety of opportunities to students to
attain higher education, but it is not all about benefits and advantages indeed.
The distance mode of education offers students the flexibility to decide, what they
want to learn, when they want to learn, at what pace they want to learn and what
they would like to learn. So, with such flexibility, distance learning is soon
becoming the most favored choice and open learning method for students today,
especially for working professionals.

It is understood and well researched that not all students tend to learn via same
technique of open learning and there is no particular technique that facilitate
learning in everyone. There are several factors that affect student’s capacity to
study. Applied learning, interaction, prior knowledge, analytical skills and
motivations are some of the factors.

Advertisements

Review

USER REVIEW
 3.84 (19 votes)

So, considering this varied consistency of students, distance learning needs to

triumph over all these issues and challenges. Though most of these challenges
were already addressed with the use of technology, but there are several cons
and disadvantages that both students and teachers encounter. Some of the cons
of distance learning include:

Pros of Distance Learning

With distance education the energy and time of the students can be saved and it
is astronomical indeed. It enables the students to prevent hectic commute and
even the hassles of trying to reach the class on time, thus keeping their mind free
of anxiety and stress. Flexibility is another primary advantage of distance
education as it enables the students to study at their own pace and perform their
coursework at any specific time which fits with their busy schedule. Students get
the opportunity to be the master of their own schedule with distance learning.
Distance learning also allows the students to continue with their part time & full
time work schedules and other commitments, whilst earning a certificate, diploma
or a degree. Distance learning has very less interruption into your daily schedule.
Tuition fee of on-campus courses are quite expensive compared to distance
education. The additional cost of the courses is actually required by the institution
to maintain the physical location and to pay the faculty members. In distance
learning, students can save money on travelling and paying the faculty. If anyone
who desire to earn a degree with small budget then distance education would be
financially feasible for them.

Candidates who are self-disciplined person and highly driven with hectic personal
schedule may opt for distance learning, while any social person who prefer to
succeed in structured environs of classroom with face to face interaction may opt
for traditional learning system. Either way, students can pursue for higher
education and earn a degree with ease.

Cons of Distance Learning

No Physical Interaction

Educators are both role models and knowledge givers for students in the
conservative way of education. When the physical interaction between teachers
and students is missing, then students tend to lose personal interaction with their
educators and thereby the mental buildup of students may get hampered. Most
of the students prefer to learn when their educators are physically present in the
classroom. So, for such students distance learning would not be beneficial
indeed.

Less Motivational

In distance learning, students are not required to attain classroom in person.

They are isolated and hence they don’t get same sort of interaction with other
fellow colleagues in the course. Besides, the educators will also not be able to
interact with the student directly; therefore they can’t motivate the students as
they do in classroom. In traditional way of learning, the students get the
opportunity to thrive in an environment which gives them a challenge to perform
in a peer group. In distance mode of learning, all these motivational factors are
not present and can be unfavorable for many students.

Distance Learning Don’t Help In Developing Oral Skills And Social

Interactions
Remember, most of the distance learning courses don’t facilitate oral
communication, unless the program is synchronous learning event, where the
students are asked to participate by using some communication techniques.
Today, most of the distance learning courses use asynchronous method of
learning and don’t facilitate such interactions.

Difficult To Choose A Quality Educational Program

When it comes to select the best distance learning program, it really becomes
difficulty for students to determine the best course out of so many programs.
They find it complicated to select the best course which will offer them maximum
benefits because they are unaware about the recognized quality guaranteed
online courses.

Employer’s Reluctance To Accept Distance Mode Of Training

It has already been determined that most of the employers hesitate to accept the
concept of distance mode of learning and they prefer hiring the employees who
have completed their degrees through traditional mode of education.

Important To Have Good Time Management Skills

Students can only reap maximum benefits from distance learning if they have
better time management skills because in this mode of learning the students
should have self-guided skills in their learning approach.

Technical Difficulties

Another difficulty that distance learners will encounter with this mode of
education is the requirement of sound technical skills; this includes good typing
skills to excel in distance learning setup. Distance learning also includes some
hidden cost, like maintenance and purchasing of computer and other equipments
to succeed in the learning process.

So, it will not be exaggerated to say that along with several benefits and
flexibility, distance learning also has several disadvantages and cons associated.
Most of the distance learning courses are either program-dependent or person-
dependent. So, to make future distance learning more efficient and widespread, it
is important to minimize and avoid all these aforementioned factors.

by  Scholarship Position Team

 College Articles
 article
  
 Distance Learning
Post navigation
Haworth Scholarships for Undergraduate Students at University of
Birmingham in UK, 2014
Colleges Offering Art and Craft Programs

Free Newsletter
Never miss application deadlines.

Subscribe Now!

Recent Career Advice

Career Goal: Get It Over With Future

Career Goal: Get It Over With Future
Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin Can Be Useful for Students to Find a Job
Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin Can Be Useful for Students to Find a Job
Best Tips for Students to Stop Worrying and Boost Their Positivity
Best Tips for Students to Stop Worrying and Boost Their Positivity
How Can Students Add Transferable Skills in a Résumé?
How Can Students Add Transferable Skills in a Résumé?
What Things Should Students Know Before Writing Their First Resume?
What Things Should Students Know Before Writing Their First Resume?
When Should You Quit Your Job?
When Should You Quit Your Job?

Recent Posts

 Chengdu Belt and Road Initiative Scholarships for International Students in China
 Global Wales Scholarships at Aberystwyth University, UK
 Olive Fynney Memorial Scholarships for International Students at Crandall University,
Canada
 Entrance Scholarships for International Students at University of Guelph-Humber, Canada
 International PhD Positionsin Coupled THMC Modelling for Renewable Geothermal
Energy, UK

Featured Scholarships

200 Merit Undergraduate international awards in Portugal

660 Berows international awards Program Test (BISPT), 2021
KU Full-tuition International Excellence Awards in USA
250 Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence international awards in UK, 2021
300 Russian Government funding for International Students, 2020
 UST South Korea funding for International Students, 2020
Cyprus West University Tomorrow’s Leaders Partially-funded international awards in Turkey
200 ANU Chancellor’s international awards in Australia
University of Miami Fully-Funded Stamps funding for International Students
University of Miami Fully-Funded Stamps funding for International Students in USA
300 Full tuition fee programme for International Students at Ton Duc Thang University, Vietnam

Search Scholarships

Contact Us

Corporate Headquarters

31 St. James Ave 6th Flr, Boston, Ma 02116

International Admissions

Northways Parade, 28 College Cres, London NW3 5DN

Phone/Whatsapp: +44 756 390 4978

Information

 About Us
 Contact Us
 Privacy Policy
 Terms and Conditions
 Disclaimer

Resources

 Employers
 Career Counselling
 Student Housing
 Career Advice

Popular Study Guides

 Study in Canada
 Study in China
 Study in Australia
 Study in New Zealand
 Study in Ireland
Copyright 2007-2021 Scholarship-Positions.com