Distance Education in the Philippines

This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of online degree. Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson83@yahoo.com.

It’s literally a case of the mountain coming to Mohammed if Mohammed cannot go to the mountain for some reason or the other, and it’s boosted the spread of literacy and knowledge like never before. Online and distance education degrees and diplomas were introduced in order to allow people who had neither the time nor the wherewithal to attend regular college and earn degrees in the traditional manner, and today, it has become a booming business that has also given rise to a few myths along the way. Not many people are aware of the facts of online and distance education, so if you want to look beyond the hype and find the truth, you must get rid of the following myths that surround online education:

• It is easier: You may think that distance education is the easier option of the two because it’s being imparted online, but the truth is that without a teacher at hand to explain each concept or provide you with individual attention, without classmates to interact and discuss lessons with, without a fixed schedule that forces you to attend class, it’s harder to stay dedicated to studying. Online education involves much more hard work and discipline on your part because the onus is on you to voluntarily attend online discussion sessions and complete your assignments on time.
• It is not as informative or comprehensive: Very often, it’s not the degree itself but how much you are willing to learn that counts. Participation must be active rather than passive, be it for regular or distance education. So if you choose a good online school that is accredited and a degree that holds some value when you graduate, it is bound to be as comprehensive and complete as those taught at traditional colleges.
• You don’t get to interact with classmates and teachers: If you are even a little aware of the rage that social networks have become today, this is one myth that should have already been busted. Facebook, Twitter and other networking sites ensure that we use computers and technology to communicate, even to those we see regularly and interact with on a daily basis. So when it comes to online education, there are a number of tools that allow us to keep in touch with classmates and teachers, just like we would at regular colleges. It’s up to you to utilize them effectively.
• You need to be tech savvy: While it does help to know technology and be interested in it, it is not a prerequisite to be a student of online education. The technology used is simple enough, so if you know your way about a computer or are eager to learn, you should be good to go in a week or so. And as you continue to use the technology and software, you become better at and more comfortable with it.
• Employers and traditional colleges do not accept it: While it’s true that most people are not too crazy about online degrees, the college and degree you choose play a large role in its acceptance. Online degrees from reputable and accredited colleges are better than regular ones from colleges that are relatively unknown. Employers often look at your skills rather than the degree you hold, and colleges do accept credits transferred from accredited online colleges.