Choosing Distance Education

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Choosing Distance Education...

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Distance Education Online

Distance education over the Internet fills a vital gap in the education field. It provides e-learners with convenience, flexibility, and the ability to study anywhere, any time without having to leave the home. The majority of the students that seek training through online programs are around 35 years old, work full-time jobs, and have family responsibilities.

Is Distance Education For Me?

Online training providers, non-traditional universities, and colleges who offer distance education programs have different accreditation standards than traditional schools. It is important to recognize the difference between legitimate and illegitimate distance education programs before signing up. Sometimes, if not careful, the certificate or diploma an online course promises is not even worth the paper it is printed. Should this happen to you then your time and money invested was wasted.

Special Caution If...

Special caution is warranted if distance education programs offered over the Internet use words such as approved, accredited, accreditation pending, authorized, chartered, empowered, licensed, recognized, registered, or any other profound sounding designation in their advertisements and a highly visible "order now" button. Students must be careful and be aware of such commonly used tactics! Just because a school or online program says so does not always mean they are indeed legitimate.

Read Press Release (PRLog): "Warning: Diploma Mills"

Download "Warning: Diploma Mills" PDF file

Read: Choosing Distance Education

Print: Informed Consumer Check List

FTC Appeal To Hiring Managers and Recruiters:

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officials cautions hiring managers, recruiters, and human resource professionals and urges them to carefully review applications and resumes from people who want to work for them, or seek promotions. They suggest that they give special attention to credentials, professional certifications, and degrees.

Download "Facts for Business" (Tell Tales of a Bogus Degree) PDF file

It Depends On Your Learning Goals

Online programs can be convenient but have on major draw-back: if a student needs to drop out he/she might not be able to continue by joining the sequence weeks later**. Being that the course is "distant" the distance does not make your job any easier when requesting a refund.

One reason why a real classroom training still outshines online learning is the cohort format of these programs, meaning, that the online student is signed up and locked in with a set group of people for the duration of this particular program.

If a student is unable to log in, or must drop out, but want to continue the class later, they have to wait for the next time this class is offered. Often, online courses pay their online instructors a certain commission, and if the instructor decides he/she is no longer willing or able to continue the course you are stuck and left with very little legal recourse.

It is always easier to walk into a brick-and-mortar traditional school to speak directly with the advisors. More often than not, they are flexible and willing to meet your needs. Online programs, however, are rather inflexible . Once a student drops out they often cannot continue by joining the sequence of the class. Being that the course is "distant" the distance does not make your job any easier when requesting a refund.

If you get a degree or even if you just want to transfer credits, and the school you got them from is not properly accredited, students will find that an unaccredited school is like going to NO school at all! Earned credits and the degree won't count if they want to transfer, or go on to earn a higher educational degree.

On the other hand, credits earned at a regionally accredited institution will be recognized in transfer by many traditional colleges. For the most part, if an online or distance education program is accredited by a recognized agency, the credits earned will be valid. Usually, though, only grades of C or higher will be transferable, and one must watch out for possible time limits on previously earned credits.

NOTE: Not all programs are like this, so you might want to check before joining!

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** Please feel free to verify the above information with the US Department of Education, the American Council on Education, and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Also visit DETC.org, and/or CHEA.org to learn more about distance education and higher education accreditation. Look for their list of schools that offer accredited distance learning degree programs. The schools listed offer degrees through the Master's, and First Professional degree levels.