Distance Education Key Terms

Embrace the benefits of distance education for your employees by learning key terms
By Michele Vrouvas Distance education has steadily gained a foothold in the United States. Distance learning was immediately popular among foreign students who wanted to study in the United States but without the transportation and lodging expenses. This convenient method of learning is now becoming equally popular among business professionals who want to continue their education while holding full time jobs. However, some have questioned the comparative value of distance learning and whether employers will hire distance learning graduates. Here's an overview of distance education key terms that address some of these concerns.

Advantages

From the beginning, the advantages of distance learning as opposed to traditional, on-campus programs were obvious to some but not to others.
Try:  The U.S. Journal of Academics puts some of these concerns to rest. Read a list of advantages, which helps determine the quality of distance education. Find out why distance learning holds special advantages to foreign students and those with limited access to transportation.

Accreditation

Public and private schools in the United States that offer distance learning are seeking regional accreditation to attract more students.
Try:  Go to Capella University's site to find out what types of distance learning programs offered by any undergraduate or graduate school are likely to receive accreditation.

Professional development

Some graduate schools offer a distance learning program that is geared to business professionals seeking professional development.
Try:  Find out exactly what classes in professional development are provided by distance learning schools like the University of Phoenix. The school's web site also explains how to get CEUs-continuing education units-so you can demonstrate to prospective employers that you've completed an accredited program of professional development classes.

Effectiveness

Hand in hand with the advantages of distance learning have been questions concerning the effectiveness of these self-paced learning classes.
Try:  Check out the teacher's guide to distance learning by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology. The manual identifies research studies demonstrating the effectiveness of distance learning as opposed to traditional instruction.

Distance learning MBA

A distance learning MBA refers to one of the graduate degrees you can get after completing distance education courses.
Try:  Distance Learning Net offers tips to those contemplating a distance learning MBA, such as researching the companies you'd like to work for to make sure they'll accept this degree, before you register to take those classes. It also tells you how to pick the right distance learning MBA program.

International Center for Distance Learning Research and Praxis

This organization supports research on the effectiveness and influence of distance learning programs in the United States.
Try:  Go to the United States Distance Learning Association website to learn about its research focus, how it works to strengthen the ties between distance education research and practices and how it encourages best practices among its members.