Online distance learning is growing at an incredible pace. Academic faculty and students have understood the importance of acquiring and implementing online classes and courses to improve upon the existing academic setting and start getting more students compared to ‘brick and mortar’ classrooms.
Moodle, Sakai, etc. are used on a large scale to organize classes over the internet. These Learning Management Systems are Cloud-based, which means they are freely accessible from any corner of the globe. Cloud computing has brought in revolutionary changes in the way all kinds of businesses functioned in the pre-cloud computing days.
Cloud-based solutions come with some great advantages such as:
- Round the clock accessibility from any remote location
- No buying or installing of any software or hardware on your PC
- Huge space to capture and store numerical data and text-based information
- Cost-effective, with no set up, activation or subscription charges
Educational administrators are formulating plans for a successful adoption of the Cloud platform to offer more distance education programs to students residing in far off places. Let’s have a look at the advantages of adopting distance learning by K-12 and higher educational institutions.
Accessibility for Those Residing at Distant Locations
Anyone from any place can enroll into an online course and start receiving education instantly. For example, a non-US person interested in pursuing a course in Healthcare Management can easily enroll into Georgetown University’s online “Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner” class without even coming to the U.S.
No Wasting Time and Money on Transport
Students don’t need to spend money and such other resources for attending classes every day. They can sit comfortably at home with a PC or laptop to join in a class as soon as it starts.
Flexibility to Study
Cloud-based distance education offers tremendous flexibility to study from a convenient location with access to an internet connection. It offers you the convenience to study at your own time and submit assignments or projects online. Many teachers tell their students to maintain a personal blog to submit homework and projects on the same. Teachers, at their pace, can go through the tasks and grade them accordingly.
Self-paced Learning
You can quickly browse through learning materials you have already studied before, and concentrate on areas containing new information. You can join conversations with the teacher on the bulletin board discussion and seek clarifications on spot. You can learn at your own personal speed and intensity, without having to keep pace with fellow students.
Easy Accessibility to Those with Restricted Mobility
Physically challenged people (deaf and dumb or visually impaired), injured, and the elderly can easily enroll for a class online overcoming their mobility issues. Online distance education also offers flexibility of continuing studies for those with family responsibilities such as: parents with young children or working students.
