Demand Quality In College Distance Learning
November 19, 2009 by Andy Zain
Filed under Online Colleges
College distance learning is fast becoming a primary way for many people to obtain higher education.
Distance learning is defined as a way to transfer knowledge from instructors to students who are separated by time and distance through the use of technology. This practice has become widespread since the Internet became more easily accessible in the early’90s.
On the other hand, accreditation is a process that’s intended to make sure an educational institution provides a quality education, as measured by standards set by an external agency or association. Colleges and universities that are accredited by recognized scholastic associations have been examined by scholars and administrators of higher education.
The process of accreditation is intended to assure that an institution of higher learning provides a quality education in a systematic way. To achieve accreditation a college or university must meet certain standards set by an external body of some sort. For instance, the Distance Education and Training Council is one of five national accrediting bodies listed by the U. S. Department of Education. College distance learning may or may not be accredited by DETC, but a prospective student should make sure that the program in which he or she is interested has some reputable accreditation.
Professors and higher education administrators examine the operations and programs of colleges and universities that seek accreditation from an association or agency. They review the quality and quantity of instructional material for each course, compare that to similar curriculum available at other accredited institutions, and verify the teaching credentials of instructors. These accreditation examiners make sure that the college distance learning programs being offered are not “dumbed down” versions of courses taught in traditional classrooms.
Accreditation examiners review the content of courses to make sure that students in college distance learning programs are held to same rigorous academic standards as on-campus students. Whether the knowledge is being transmitted via audio, video or text files over the Internet, it is crucial that the information and online interaction match that of on-campus classes.
Students of college distance learning programs can earn the same kinds of certificates and degrees available on campus. These can range from certification in a single specialty through two-year associate’s or four-year bachelor’s degrees through master’s and doctorates in graduate study.
Choosing the right college distance learning program for your career goals should involve reviewing information from several schools before applying for admission. Be sure to request information, too, from each accredited college or university that offers the programs you are most interesting in learning from. This will allow you to effectively compare the information from several schools before making your decision.
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