Explore Distance Learning Opportunities for a Lucrative Career

What is Distance Education?

In the pandemic, all students had to study remotely through online and other digital means. The teachers and the learners got separated by space, i.e., they were not at the same place as in a regular classroom.

All studies shifted to the comfort and safety of home. You may name this form of home learning, in certain aspects, similar to distance education.

Distance education is education where the learner and the teacher are rarely present together in time and space. It intends to make learning more flexible for the learners by removing the aspect of time and space for self-paced learning. It believes in providing equal educational opportunities to all.

What Do I Need to Be a Successful Distance Learner?

The learners opting for distance education programs need to have a learning mindset different from the one in regular classroom courses. If you have study skills and you can learn mostly on your own with little reliance on teachers, you fit the criteria of an ideal distance learner!

An ideal distance learner is a highly motivated and independent learner as most of the time there is a physical absence of teachers and co-learners. But, it doesn’t at all mean that the learners are not facilitated.

Distance education institutes provide a variety of learner support and learning resources to help learners in their pursuit of learning.

What is the Mode of Learning in Distance Education?

Students who get enrolled get the course material in form of printed self-learning material (SLMs). The SLMs are in a didactical and interactive fashion as it is said that SLMs have teachers in-built in them.

Besides, the digital SLMs are accessible to all online, for example, IGNOU’s eGyanKosh website (http://egyankosh.ac.in/) and DU’s School of Open Learning (SOL) Digital Library (http://web.sol.du.ac.in/library/).

These online libraries are a vast repository of excellent study material, often used by regular course students and those preparing for various competitive exams.

The students can avail themselves of digital services like audio and video counseling through radio and TV channels and use online platforms like Facebook, YouTube, SWAYAM, etc. for their learning. Most programs also offer a face-to-face component of a few months for practical and field learning.

As far as the variety of learning resources and channels of dissemination, distance education offers far richer experience than the regular mode.

Are the Degrees Valid?

This is a persistent question in the minds of students when it comes to considering distance learning choices. And, why not? There is always a doubt when you don’t see a brick-and-mortar institution with a fair amount of mass awareness about it.

Except for a few highly popular options, you always need to be doubly sure of the credentials of the distance education institutes you are considering applying to.

Distance education institutes need to get their programs and degrees recognized by UGC-Distance Education Bureau (DEB). You may check if UGC recognizes the program you are looking to get enrolled in through the website https://www.ugc.ac.in/deb/.

Such degrees are absolutely valid across all governmental and private organizations, both for higher education and job opportunities.

Who May Opt for Distance Education?

Students Unwilling to Drop a Year

Students often take a year off after school in order to prepare for competitive exams for admission into professional degree courses of their choice. They usually remain in a dilemma on whether to lose a full year, and what if they cannot crack the highly competitive exam even after that!

Getting into a distance education program that may not require the rigor of a regular on-campus program may be a suitable alternative for the students who wish to prepare for an entrance test without having to enroll themselves in a regular course.

Students With Health-related Issues

Many students cannot continue with regular classroom studies owing to their health issues or a physical disability. Instead of getting disheartened, they may take a prudent decision by selecting a distance education program to fulfill their aspirations.

The students with health issues may manage their distance studies because of the flexibility such programs offer. It enables them in doing self-paced and self-regulated learning suitable to their requirements.

Students Desiring to Study With A Parallel Job

While some students have the urge to get into the workforce and become financially independent early in their lives, some may have to leave their studies due to financial constraints and circumstances.

It might become very cumbersome and infeasible to study from a regular university if you are also working. But this is not the case with open and distance learning. Also, distance education may help increase your prospects by simultaneously earning you a degree without interrupting your work-related responsibilities.

Students Who Wish to Engage in Creative/Entrepreneurial Ventures

Everyone has their own life journey with different aspirations and attitudes. Some people are too creative or entrepreneurial to fit into the rigid system of classroom learning. They always want to explore on their own and work independently towards their goals.

These people are usually self-learners. For such brilliant minds, distance education offers much freedom and flexibility to learn and venture into their creative pursuits.

Students Who Couldn’t Make It to Regular College Merit List

These days, getting admission into a college has become very difficult. The cut-off to make into the merit list is skyrocketing every year. The limited seats available in a regular college are the main reason many students get left out from the folds of higher education.

The good news is that no such disability exists in a distance education program. It has a huge, if not unlimited, intake capacity. Anyone who wishes to pursue higher education gets all the opportunity to learn through distance education.

A wide variety of programs, including professional and vocational courses are available in many of the open and distance education universities. Admission is easy for most of the courses. Some of the professional programs may have a requirement of entrance or some additional eligibility criteria.

I suggest that you go through the prospectus for the list of the available programs through the web link http://www.ignou.ac.in/ignou/bulletinboard/news/latest/detail/Online_Admission_Portal_Links_for_July_2021_Session_last_date_is_15th_July_2021-839 for more information on IGNOU admissions.

Likewise, you may also search for the prospectus of other distance and open institutes and know what all programs they are offering along with other important admission-related information.

There are challenges in each one’s life. Don’t let those challenges convert into calamities! If you are willing, you will always find a way to follow your dreams. Education is a great enabler. Education matters, it doesn’t where you are getting it from.

You just need to explore a newer world of infinite possibilities and change your approach to life!