Distance education is teaching and learning offered to students in remote locations, including their homes. Courses may be delivered synchronously (on a set schedule similar to on-campus courses) or asynchronously (on an open, flexible schedule). Distance education course requires no more than two face-to-face meetings at a specific time and location per term. Students might be required to come to a location - for an orientation, final exam, lab, or project presentation. Other exams, video conferencing sessions or meetings might be required at specific times, with options to participate from several locations.

Therefore, whether taking a single course or completing a formal program, distance education students can stay in their hometown and hold a job or raise a family while working toward a degree or professional certification. With this freedom to learn at a time and place of one's choosing comes the added responsibility of self-motivation.

The distance education student, in general, has more freedom and more responsibility for his or her own instruction. The instructor becomes more of a "guide on the side" than a "sage on the stage." Studies indicate that when students are active participants in the learning process, they are likely to perform better and remember more. The multimedia approach employed by many forms of distance education addresses a wider range of learning styles among students than do most forms of traditional classroom instruction :

Distance education allows you to take advantage of the opportunities to interact with your instructor or with on-site facilitators, through face-to-face contact, e-mail, telephone, live chat sessions or whatever means available. Don't be intimidated by the technology. The goal is the same as in traditional face-to-face instruction: to convey knowledge and/or skills, to help you understand or become proficient in a subject, and to evaluate your grasp of the material. Use the Internet and the Web as a resource for follow-up materials. The libraries, universities, and all the amassed wisdom of the world are literally at your fingertips.

So you probably will have some feeling of isolation, because most likely you won't be in a classroom with other students. But you do have the flexibility of accessing your course on your own time. You'll also find that you will probably be able to interact with the instructor more often through mediated channels (phone, email, chat) than you would be able to do in a large class.
In a traditional classroom set up, you have the opportunity to ask questions face to face. With distance education, you can still interact and communicate with your instructor, but it's a little different. In videoconferencing, you still can ask questions of your instructor through the interactive audio and video (the instructor can see and hear you through a television monitor, and you can see and hear the instructor). With other types of technology, the communication methods may be through chat sessions, electronic bulletin boards, the telephone, and email.

This depends on the course. The technologies that universities use include CD-ROMs, Web, videoconferencing, videotape, and streaming video. You will need to check with your college and possibly with a course's instructor to find out which technology is used.

Generally, you will not have to travel on a regular basis to a central location, if it is a Web-based course. For videoconference courses, however, you may have to travel to a site that has the videoconferencing equipment. Occasionally, a distance education class will require a special class meeting at centralized locations. In some cases, this may require an entire weekend at the beginning of the term. Refer to individual course descriptions to determine whether a given course has such a travel requirement. The instructor should also notify you of such requirements. You can earn a variety of degrees and certificates as a distance education student at the University of your choice. You can earn a bachelor of science degree, master's degrees, certifications, and even doctorates in various areas.

Computer and internet access are necessary. Videotape Portable, uses moving images and audio, easy for students to review videotape contents on VCRs. Tends to be lecture-style presentation. Video Conferencing Live, two-way dialogue with teacher and other students via a specially equipped conference room or on a computer. Uses motion and audio.

Correspondence (printed materials) Portable, inexpensive, accessible, well-organized materials. Time-delay delivering and receiving materials.

Interactive video conferencing courses allow the instructor and students to communicate with each other live through a two-way audio and video signal. This may be through a desktop video conferencing application or at dedicated video conferencing room. To learn how a professor interacts with students on- and off-campus in an interactive videoconferencing course, watch this short video

Consequently I can say that my need to take this course is high and I need it immediately for a specific goal. In plus Feeling that I am part of a class is sometime important to me because classroom discussion is almost always helpful to me. I need faculty comments on my assignments within one week, so I can review what I did. Considering my professional and personal schedule, the amount of time I have to work on a distance learning course is more time than for an on-campus course.

Coming to campus on a regular schedule is extremely difficult for me .I have commitments (work, family or personal) during times when classes are offered.

As a reader, I would classify myself as good - I usually understand the text without help. When I need help understanding the subject I am comfortable approaching an instructor to ask for clarification. I believe I do a good job of managing my time. I can devote 5-7 hours a week to a hour course. I feel very confortable using technology (e-mail and chat, etc.) to communicate with students and my professor. I am very confident using a computer. So I have access to the Internet and e-mail always and I always must have direct supervision in order to complete a task.