What are the Objections to Distance Learning?

The potential student is bombarded on the Internet with information offers for distance learning. At first glance, this seems to be the perfect answer. Flexible online learning has many advantages. It is said that there are also a number of objections to online learning.

Attitudes: the big objection
The goal of education is to increase knowledge. A college diploma is often aimed at getting a better job or even starting a career. When potential employers or even graduate programs find that a degree has been obtained online, the attitude to its validity is in question. This is not without merit because many degree programs available online are not accredited and do not offer the same quality of education as traditional colleges. Even though the programs are accredited, the attitude does not change. It is perceived as a lack of dedication to having graduated online.

The attitude of the instructor is also taken into account. If the instructor does not consider distance education as a valid form of teaching, the quality of the education provided may be diminished. Students may also feel that distance education is easier and takes less time than a traditional classroom. Negative attitudes in the classroom, traditional or online, can greatly affect the education of the entire room.

Accreditation objection
Some attitude problems are caused by real problems. As mentioned earlier, there are online degree programs that are not accredited by any board or institution of higher learning. For this reason, some online learners need to be careful when choosing an online school. If the school indicates that it is accredited, check with the agency with which it is listed. The last thing the student wants to discover after thousands of dollars of study is that the degree they have worked hard to obtain does not come from an accredited university.

Technology itself causes problems for some
The technology itself can become a disadvantage for many online students. If a computer is not fast enough or if power outages and network problems prevent students from attending classes and submitting their homework on time, the student may feel lost trying to catch up. Online teachers are often sensitive to the student’s needs and the technological issues involved, and will offer extensions of work, but the student will still be required to present all of the course work. This can be a serious disadvantage because the student is playing catch-up and may not be with the rest of the class.

Emotional intelligence
One of the last objections to distance education concerns a concept called emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence “is an ability to reason validly with emotions and to use them to improve thinking. It is said that this is reinforced by the face-to-face interaction offered by a classroom. The idea of ​​reading individuals and understanding the topics covered, In part, the emotional and non-verbal reactions of students can be lost in an online environment.