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Sept 16, 2003 It wasn’t very long ago that National geographic and other learning channels of the last century did exposes on Australian kids learning through ham radio classrooms and distance education. Being as the actual geography prohibited the daily traveling to and from schools, which were also far, and few between, they did manage to make education reachable to everyone. What we looked on as something exciting and indigenous to Australian Outback’s and sheep stations was actually the father, and mother of what is now becoming a hushed word in the education realm. Distance education. When we speak of education there is still a stigma about traditional classroom being more ‘ legitimate” than distance which is often called correspondence or non-school in many eyes. Why does the attitude seem to look down on distance education? It is because many believe that the only way you can learn something is by being held captive in a classroom. It is looked own upon as simple correspondence schools which to many have the connotation of lack of interest in your own education, and often the populace has a stigma of correspondence schools are not legitimate. How wrong the populace is about these ideas. If one were to look at Australia and the students that were educated in a “ distance” method one would see that 89 percent of these kids went on to, and still go on to higher education. What is even more impressive is that those who partake in distance education have a higher education standard than those who face day today nonsense in traditional brick and mortar schools. To be a student of distance education many may argue that it is easy to cheat, someone else could do the work for you etc. But what they don’t realize is just how many kids flunk out of school because they found a way to cheat, or fail miserably because they cant keep up with the daily changing classes. The stress of attending traditional school can leave scars and distaste for learning as early as the first grade. So what is distance education. For those who don’t know, or for those who may be interested. Distance education is just that, Complete education at a distance from the brick and mortar schoolhouse. This was started back in the late 1800s by a school in Pennsylvania for the coal miners to help them get a high school diploma. A diploma often meant pay raise or other rewards that could lead to better lives. That school was and is known as ICS. Through the mail system, coal miners, as young as 12 and as old as 45, could finish school and get the hopes and chances t break out of the poverty and coal mine cycle of living. ICS (known as International Correspondence School) as the years went by grew. They added more and more advanced and specialized courses. As they added more and more students and immigrants found they could gain an education without the embarrassment of language barriers, and could thereby gain employment in fields. Their delivery method was simple. Books would be sent, lessons done and a teacher/mentor/advisor would grade the papers and mark them in a true student grade book. Those grades would become a permanent record as f the person attended. ICS was the fist school to be come accredited and gain federal funding for the school to operate. Under FDR, ICS enrolled more students than thought possible. During the World Wars, soldiers would often take courses to have something to fall back on when they were discharged if they were infantry etc. Pennsylvania then accepts those grades of whatever course and converts them into diplomas a d credits. Just as if you attended the physical building. Just like the openly accepted ways that Australian students learn in the outback. Now with technology and the advances that we so welcome into our homes via computers, you would think that distance education would not be a whispered or be an embarrassed word. But unfortunately it is. Many states do not consider that distance education is actual classes and courses. Many states are simply failing their own populace by not, in the very least accepting it. Distance education is not for everyone granted. It is however for those who yearn, and desire school, It is for those who have a small income and can not afford the fuel to attend classes or live in rural areas. It is a way to obtain a degree or diploma. It is a way to excel. Distance education courses and methods different. Some use daily webcam classes, video or streaming video, conference classes, slideshow, interactive chats etc. The delivery method is based on each college; schools researched methods and found what works. Setting up courses for Internet use is much more difficult than traditional school. The use of multimedia to convey ideas and explain points often meets with a treasure hunt to aquatint oneself with the virtual college atmosphere. And that out come is wonderful. The replay and consistent reinforcement and a coursework only helps to explain the concepts and ideas that are being taught. Not all schools are accredited however. Many are slowly becoming accredited. That means your grades and degrees count in real time. And you have not spent money or time working on something that carries no residual merit. Finding these schools does require a little hunting. But the hunt is worth it in the long run. ICS/Thompson education Direct (http://www.educationdirect.com) is accredited worldwide. They have over 50 courses for you to choose from and most famous of all courses is Highschool. Their program exceeds many local requirements. Where some High schools only require 16 credits Thompson requires no less than 24. The Pennsylvania department of education strict guidelines and requirements make this one of the hardest schools to graduate from. Where passing or failing grades are set to a minimum of 65 in standard schools, Distance education courses often require no less than 70- 85 for passing grades. Accreditation also means higher expectations and the reward is a hard viable degree. Some schools simply are there for benefit of saying you have a degree when its not viable, What can often be considered a paper mill. But with more and more established colleges and old universities seeing the possibilities and offering the distance service, these established hard core institutions are coming into the 21 century. They extend their accreditation to their distance courses. In rare cases a residency requirement of say two weeks to 6 weeks may be needed for tests and onsite assessments and completions. And formal graduation The need to learn often comes or shall I say realized and yearned for, late in life. Many students attending college courses or online courses, as the surveys go, are often in their mid 30s. Many students who return to school are not your typical drop-outs. Indeed they are of those that continued on in school. Yet Distance education offers to the drop out the opportunity to gain that self-esteem and get beyond high school degrees and diplomas, and experience trades never before open to them. This article is meant to peak your curiosity. And while it is true that many people simply don’t think that Distance Education will ever work. The truth is, it does work and work very well. They simply have shut their minds to new thinking. Distance Education abounds on the net; Worldwidelearn.com is the place on the web to find ACCREDITED schools worldwide that offer distance education true degree. So as we look towards the horizon of the internet, we need only look back at the grandfather and grandmother who proved it all can work. Hail Australia., we thank you.. ------------ Email Julia Sherman Talley: jimmysdevoted2@bellsouth.net Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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