Things That Make You Love and Hate Distant Learning

Distant learning is the learning program where a student can learn without attending class. It is a remote way of studying where learning material is provided to the student but teacher assistance is provided only when necessary. It is a correspondent way of getting an education.

Modes of distant education: 

There are various types of distant education that help students to learn and get their degree on time.

• Synchronous: Synchronous learning is done with the help of video chat, conferencing and sitting in the classroom. It is less flexible and day to day routine of a student is altered.  It is best suited for a degree program that gives personality development.
• Asynchronous: Asynchronous learning doesn’t affect the life of a student as there is no need to attend classes regularly. Classes are held either on weekly basis or at student’s own will. It is more flexible and suitable for the students who want to learn along with the job. But the quality of learning is not up to the mark.
• Hybrid distance learning: Combination of both synchronous and asynchronous, in hybrid learning students must attend classes after a fixed interval of time.
• Computer-based learning: In this, a computer lab acts as a classroom for the students for a fixed period of time.
• Online Courses: There are fixed time and open schedule distance learning programs. For fixed time there is a specified time in which student must login or he may miss the lecture. For open schedule students are provided data in the form of e-mail, internet based textbooks, video lectures etc. that they can access anytime.

Assignments procedures may vary for different type of educations.  But is distant education is the best mode of education? Are there any disadvantages of this education? For understanding, if one should love or hate distant education he must understand about various pros and cons of this education.

Pros and Cons of Distant Education: 

Distant education provides an advantage in which student can study from anywhere and at any time. The flexible amount of time and course duration provided by distant education makes it easy for the student to work and study at the same time. They are less costly as compared to regular education. Money is charged only for registration, study material and fixed classes depending on course. It can be defined as learning while earning.

But there are some disadvantages of distant education and one is that it is not accepted by many multinational companies. So job security is not available with this education. Seriousness for education and dedication to complete the course is sometimes missing because distant education doesn’t provide a study environment to students.  Moreover, there is less scope of personality development with distant education.

Conclusion: Advantages and disadvantages have always followed each other. So if there is a reason for students to love distant education, then there is the reason for them to hate it as well. If you are only considering education for learning than distant education can be chosen. But if you want job security then you must think a lot before making a choice. 

The Reasons to Become a Volunteer as a Student

Schools and colleges often encourage their students to do volunteer work and more than often, students try to stay away and hang out with their friends instead. Doing volunteer work is considered to be boring, but what you may not know is that volunteering may actually help you a lot in the future. When you are a student, it is the best time of your life to gain new experiences and learn how to implement new thoughts into your life. Volunteering is one way to do this. If you still not sure about spending your precious time in doing volunteer work, here are some reasons that will convince you more.

Why Volunteer as a Student?

1. While doing volunteer work, you get the opportunity to make some difference, however, small it may be. Even if you are simply giving water to cancer patients, you cannot even begin to imagine what impact you are leaving behind on the patient's mind.
2. Volunteer work teaches you how to work as a team. When you are assigned a particular project, every member of the team comes up with his own plan for completing the project. The time and effort put in by the team together will make you understand how to work as a team. If you lucky, you may even get to lead a team someday and learn how to be the perfect leader.
3. Doing volunteer work will encourage you to start thinking in an unusual way. When the budget you have in hand is low and you have to get the job done anyhow, that is when your mind will start to think outside the box. You will learn how to be resourceful and make use of resources in the best way possible.
4. Every volunteer gets trained before he starts working with an organization. This training will help you in gaining new skills that can prove very useful in the coming future, you never know when or how you are going to need them. These skills can turn out to be the building blocks of a secure future.
5. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to meet new people that have the same interests as you. You get to meet people from different backgrounds and different cultures. This will help you in learning about those cultures. Building new relationships and networking are two necessities that are required in the corporate world. Every experience you get as a volunteer will change your life in one way or the other.
6. When you mention doing volunteer work in your resume, it gives a huge credibility to your personality and gives you a huge plus point in comparison to the other people you are competing against. Volunteer work shows that you are willing to work without getting something in return. This looks great on a college application or a job application.

Rest things aside, volunteer work will give you a sense of satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment in its own. Don’t you want to help someone in need and feel good about it later?