distance learning program
How to get a real 4 year degree in less than 3 years.
There are many accredited elearning or distance learning programs available today from reputable colleges. E-learning is a way to obtain the education you need at your own learning speed by attending college through online classes and the use of college level examinations.
Many formal college organizations have even opened a distance learning programs to take advantage of this rapidly growing market. You can obtain not only a 4 year degree but also advanced Masters and Doctorate degrees almost completely online. There’s even specialty certification type programs available from many colleges as well. The benefit to the college is they can support many more students without a large increase in cost for additional staff or physical space.
E-learning is not a shortcut in the quality of your education however. Rather, it’s an educational material delivery method that allows your to work at your own pace. Distance learning uses a variety of strategies to help you learn. Textbooks are used of course as are videos or audio of lectures, along with discussion forums, email and direct support when needed. The big benefit here is that you can go as fast or as slowly as necessary to complete the coursework. This means that it’s possible to complete semester classes in much less time.
E-learning also supports work experience. Many of the distance learning colleges are now accepting word experience portfolios and granting college level credit based on that knowledge.
In addition, if you’re a self learner, you may also want to consider CLEP [college level examination program] exams to collect college credit for basic courses even more quickly. A CLEP exam is a subject matter test given by a nearby educational institution. These are usually undergraduate classes in basic subjects like English, Art, Math and others. The benefit here is that you can study for the exam on your own then simply schedule and take it. If you fail the test or don’t get a high enough grade for your satisfaction, simply retake the exam.
There is no penalty so you can retake the exam as many times as you need to successfully pass the test. Pass the test in English with the minimum score, notify your selected distance learning college, and they award you x number of credits in that subject. I’ve known people who completed almost all their pre-requisite and under graduate courses using only CLEP and DANTES testing.
As distance learning becomes more popular, the number of colleges offering this type of educational environment continues to increase. Some however aren’t as quick to embrace all the levels of distance learning available. For example some colleges won’t give full credit for CLEP examinations though most do. Others require you to attend at least 1 class physically at their campus to be eligible for distance learning opportunities.
The best way to decide if distance learning is for you is to sign up at a local community college for a distance learning or computer based learning class. If you find that this type of educational learning environment is for you, the next step would be to find a college you are interested in attending. New York and New Jersey have several well recognized and accredited colleges that are fully supportive elearning and distance learning.
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Systematic Design for Elearning
Just as there are myriad approaches to conventional methodical teaching, e learning, too has varied approaches to it. Instead of dwelling upon the various approaches to e learning, we will here shed light on one of the most popular one. Widely known as Instructional Systems Design (ISD), it is also known by other names such as Instructional Systems Design & Development (ISDD), the Systems Approach to Training (SAT), or just Instructional Design (ID). Starting with the assessment of a student’s expectations from the courseware, it leads the student through a step by step guide involving the design and development of the training material, and finally allowing the instructor to gauge the efficacy of the program through student assessment.
Definition
A juxtaposition of some of the most popular definitions of instructional design or systematic design for e learning gives a crystal clear idea about what it exactly is, and an insight into its core process of learning. At the nucleus of an instructional design approach is the importance it accords to learning instead of technology. Learning requirements and objectives are first analyzed, and a delivery system, in conjunction with these needs is developed. The instructional design methodology was first put to use in World War II and became immensely popular in the years thereafter. It found place in corporate training, military training, textbook authoring, and web/computer based learning. A systematic design for e learning entails continuous assessment and response. Instructional Design is based on theoretical and practical research in the areas of cognition, educational psychology, and problem solving. All in all, instructional design is essentially a learning framework that simply organizes learning resources to enhance the learning process to reach defined goals.
Advantages of systematic approach to e learning
Unlike a classroom setting for learning, a systematic approach to e learning benefits the e learning process in more ways than one.
Systematic approach allows individuals other than the instructors, such as other learners, or students wishing to take up the course, to view and weigh up the content, discussions, interactions, etc.
Systematic approach makes objective assessment of e learning quality possible.
Systematic approach guarantees the examination of vital theories through apposite presentation and pertinent learning.
Systematic approach makes e learning process more transparent, thereby bequeathing quality upon it.
Systematic approach immensely helps the students of online programs through good content presentation and interactive sessions.
Systematic approach renders distance learning more effective due to its interactive characteristic and transparency compared to conventional distance learning programs.
Systematic approach provides students with the liberty of picking the instructional framework instead of the instructional framework governing student’s choice of course.
Systematic approach builds a comfortable link between pedagogy and technology, thereby allowing a change in the plan of instruction depending upon the student response, which cannot be achieved by technology alone.
Systematic approach to e learning is enhanced by well organized subject content and well thought out strategies for teaching.
Systematic approach helps in blending the material offered by different instructors and different courseware.
Systematic approach begins and ends with the learner and his experience.
The development of instructional material is a time consuming process and, hence, a major concern. Systematic approach to e learning accelerates the development process to come up with the most effective way of content presentation, and a structure to navigate through the courseware.
Various models of systematic approach to e learning
A model of any process is a representation of standard occurrences, thus restricting its blind replication in a real life situation. The review of various models of the systematic approach only reiterates the fact that different ones are effective in designing different courses, ranging from a science course to a people management course.
ADDIE – This is an ellipsis of Analyze, Design, Development, Implement, and Evaluate. One of the most popular models of instructional design, it is frequently used by instructors for academic courses.
Dick and Carey model – It is based on the concept of breaking instructions into modules. The instruction material targets the skills and knowledge that is intended to be taught.
Minimalism – Developed by J.M. Carroll, this model is useful for computer based learning. It emphasizes the importance of meaningful and self contained learning activities, execution of realistic projects by students, error recognition and recovery of training material and a tangible link between training and actual system.
Algo Heuristic – It is based on the assumption that all pedagogical activities can be categorized into algorithmic, semi algorithmic, heuristic or semi heuristic. Once a cognitive activity can be put under a certain head, its specific systems act as the foundation of the systematic approach.
Robert Gagne’s model – This model is considered to be the pioneer, in which many other models find their genesis. It subscribes to the belief that events and categories of learning form a framework that can be used to account the learning conditions.
Epathic model – A five step design model, it includes – observation, capturing data, reflection and analysis, brainstorming for solutions, and developing prototypes.
Rapid prototyping model – Here, learners, and subject matter experts constantly communicate with instructional designers and prototypes in a cyclic manner.
Conclusion
E learning is plagued with a number of maladies including high drop out rates, learner resistance and poor learner performance. These glitches can be taken care of through the systematic approach. Its various other benefits make it a unanimous choice for organizations and institutions alike.
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