Structuring Your Message

p 2 THE BENEFITS OF DISTANCE LEARNING

I . Distance learning program

A . Definition

B . Bases of program

II . Benefits of a student in a distance learning program

A . Self-regulation

B . Self-determination

C . Self-sufficiency

III . Role of faculty in a distance learning program

A . Directing students

B . Designing assessment tools

Distance learning programs are an alternative mode of learning that circumvents problems associated with accessibility and distance between the educational institution and the student . This new teaching technology follows a problem- and case-based learning approach , which

is much more practical and realistic , with regards to the quick application of lessons to daily life . In for online teaching to be as effective as conventional classroom teaching , the roles of the different components of a learning environment have evolved to adapt to this new technology . The student benefits from an online learning environment by learning how to self-regulate and self-determine his activities and goals within the course or degree program , because the alternative teaching strategy recognizes no classroom or curriculum boundaries hence the student has the potential to finish a course in a much shorter time than what is rigidly scheduled in a conventional classroom . The student is also learns to pace himself with regards to how fast or slow he studies a lesson , mainly depending on his intellectual acuity . A student in an online learning program also learns to be self-sufficient and aware that he himself plays a major role in his own learning , hence he has to be responsible for the extent of information that he can learn from each lesson or course . The student in an online learning environment is exposed to other options for course content , as well as encouraged to cooperate with other students and his peers to complete an assigned task such as discussions or analyses (Kim et al , 2006

The role of a faculty in an online learning environment is to direct the student to possible sources of learning . The faculty is also responsible in designing the learning activity of the student , mostly by employing more engaging activities than what is traditionally observed as lectures in a classroom . More importantly , the faculty plays a key role in teaching the student how to use what he has learned from the course and immediately apply this to every life . The faculty is also responsible in designing assessment tools to determine the degree of learning of the student Reference

Kim S , Farber S , Kolko BE , Kim W , Ellsbury KE , Greer T (2006 : Faculty and student participation in online discussions of palliative care scenarios . Fam . Med . 38 (7 :494-9...