TEFL: Distance Learning

Will you be surprised if I say that the first attempt for distance education was in 1728 in Boston. Of course at that time it was via postal services. However, University of London states to be the first University to offer distance learning degree. But whatever it was let me leave this and consider distance education nowadays in this hightech century.

Distance education means that one can study from everywhere in this world without even waiting for the particular course or semester to start. In our growing and developing world getting higher education is vital but how can people get it if they live far away and don't have access to the high qualified teachers and resources. Here online learning that is virtual classroom due to inovative technolories comes to help. Now people from rural areas who generally don't have acces to on-campus education can gain qualified education via virtual classrooms. Its a new way of learning and interacting and a new way of connecting classrooms and the students. For students virtual classrooms give opportunity to take the courses that are not available at regular schools and they also can fit them into their schedule. So, the flexability to fit the schedule is one of the benefits of virtual classromms.

However, speaking about benefits let's not to forget that every good thing (it's consider to be a good one :-)) has its drawbacks. And of them is that virtual schools aren't for everyone. A virtual school student should be self-directed and self-motivated. S/he should take care of her/himself because there is no teacher to say what page to read and what to write. Moreover, there is belief that having only virtual classes without any real ones can't bring you desired results. So, maybe the mix of them will be great :). Be honest I've never tried virtual classes (except 2-week skype classes) but I'd like to..........