Distance Learning

How to Find an Accredited Online Schools

2010-01-20T19:52:00.001-08:00

It is important to know if the school you are interested to enroll in is accredited. For online schools, it is a bit tricky and you have to make certain decisions.

An online school could be operating from anywhere. You could be living in an Asian country and a particular school maybe operating in New Zealand. You have to know if finishing studies from a school in a different country will be honored within your current country.

If you are planning to migrate to New Zealand and you plan to get a job there, this situation is perfectly okay. But if you are staying, perhaps you need to find an online school that is recognized in your country.

Now finding an online school recognized in your target country is quite simple. Just check with the government's education department. Some list all their accredited schools in their website, so that is one place where you could check. If they don't have a website, you can call them to inquire.

Online Schools Computer and Internet Requirements

2010-01-18T04:26:00.000-08:00

Most online schools do not recommend a specific computer model to be able to participate in their classes. Just make sure that your PC will be able to run the following software.

Mozilla Firefox 3.5 or Internet Explorer 8. Currently these are the two most popular browsers. Your browser should also have Adobe Flash Player and Shockwave Player to allow you to view videos and interactive content from the school. You should also have an Acrobat Reader to view PDF documents.

In terms of internet connection, you should have a reliable broadband access.

It is also recommended that you have a webcam and a headset so that you can participate in online chat and conferences conducted by your school.

Benefits of Online Education

2009-07-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

Online education or distance learning has many benefits compared to a traditional school setup.

1. Learn at your own pace

In every school not all students will learn at the same pace. There will always be those who can quickly grasp a subject while there will be those who learn slowly. The problem arises when the teacher has to make a choice. Either she concentrates on the slow learners until they are able to catch up or the teacher just teaches according to the pace of the quick learners and hope that the slower learners will put an effort to catch up.

If the teacher concentrates on the slow learners, the time of the quick learners will be wasted. They will have wait until their slower classmates understand the subject. If the teacher disregards the slow learners and teaches at the pace of the quick ones, she might end up having a large part of her class not learn at the end of the whole course. This thing can be avoided in an online school setup because the pace of the courses would defend on each individual student. Student can progress as slow as they want or as fast as they can.

2. Attend class when you are available

An online school is ideal for busy individuals. If you are employed or a busy parent, the schedule of online classes can be adjusted according to your preference.

3. Your won't get embarrassed with having younger classmates

There are a lot of people who want to finish another degree in addition to what they already have. But some may not be comfortable attending classes where their classmates are half their age. This will not be a problem in an online school setup. Because most of your classmates would busy professionals, businesspeople, and parents as well. And you don't have to attend school physically so you won't be embarrassed incase many of your classmates are much younger..

These are just some of the advantages of distant learning.