Fast, Respected, Convenient. Is It For You?
Get ahead without falling behind. Earn a Diploma, Degree, or Certification that will take your career to the next level…without taking time off! UC411 takes a close look at the growing distance education phenomenon.

What is Distance Learning?
Distance learning is a way for you to take educational courses or programs from home. Accredited online/distance/virtual colleges and universities, some affiliated with actual brick and mortar institutions, offer certificate, diploma, degree, and even MBA programs accessible from anywhere in the world. All you need is a computer, course material, and the drive and determination to succeed. These institutions provide you with everything that you need to complete the courses online. This includes the down loadable course materials, self-study exercises, exams, and online and offline help.

These institutions provide you with everything that you need to complete the courses online. This includes the down loadable course materials, self-study exercises, exams, and online and offline help.

Traditionally, distance learning can be accessed in one of 3 ways: either through the Internet, by post mail, or by the use of telecourses – the use of pre-recorded tapes as course material. However the future of online learning is clearly online via the Internet. From courses in fly-fishing or auto mechanics to a degree program from MIT, the offerings are boundless. Worldwide, more than 25,000 courses are now available entirely online - and that figure is growing on a daily basis.

The Benefits of Distance Learning
There are many benefits available to you when you choose distance learning as your educational tool. Distance learning is becoming more and more popular as more and more people discover the ease and simplicity of learning in their own home.
The biggest benefit of distance learning is that you get to learn at your own pace according to your own schedule. There are no scheduled classes to attend, no late nights as you juggle night school with your day time job, day school, or family.
Other benefits of distance learning include:

Affordability. Long distance learning is generally very affordable. Plus you have the added benefit of being able to take as many courses at one time as you can afford.
You can continue to work full or part time. Many times your employer may be willing to reimburse you.

Effectiveness. Long distance learning is a very effective tool in the digital age by providing updated and extensive information, real-time, whereas textbooks can become quickly outdated. Also, we do not all learn the same way. If you are someone who detests sitting in a classroom for hours on end, customize your studies to suit your learning style. A university study found that students learning in a virtual classroom tested 20 %better across the board than their counterparts who learned in a traditional classroom.

Interactive. You will find that you have to interact very closely with the course materials and the other students, whether you meet them or not.  You may find that you are more apt to ask questions in a non-classroom setting than in the classroom. This will increase the amount that you learn and benefit from the course. Jerald Schutte, a university professor, conducted his own experiment and found that "there is a very subtle thing going on here. A classroom can be inhibiting, intimidating. In the classroom you think you are the only person who doesn't know the answer, so you don't talk. The very way classrooms are set up, with everyone facing forward, deters interaction."

Ease and simplicity.  It is easy to apply online and order your course material, and have it sent directly to your home. Participate in everything from group sessions, tutoring, tests, and exams without ever having to travel.

Who’s Doing It?
Research from the American Society for Training and Development finds that e-learning now comprises 25% of training time, and a recent Ipsos-Reid survey reveals that 59% of Canadian respondents are very likely to take an online course in the future.

Because of its convenience and flexibility, online education is accessed by a diverse range of people: professionals retraining or upgrading, homemakers interested in re-entering the workforce or staying current, retirees and ‘third’ age seniors who are still active learners, students interested in exploring other fields without fully committing themselves, hobbyists who want to develop their interests, and international students who can now earn local certifications without expensive travel and tuition are just some of the people who are taking advantage of the level playing field that online learning offers.

Discover Your Options
Like any other institution, it’s important to find your fit. Online or virtual learning is offered by a number of ‘cyber-schools’, colleges, and universities, here’s a list of top online educators found on UC411.com.

Thompson Direct, since 1890, is one of the world’s largest distance education providers, and more working professionals attend University of Phoenix Online than any other private university in North America. DeVry and its Keller School of Management targets working professionals interested in starting a new career, with over 52,000 grads to date. The Granton Institute provides a 128-page Career Opportunities Guide, with certificate courses as short as 90 days. Athabasca University, a pioneer in online education delivery, serves over 24,000 students a year, and Mount Royal College, located in Calgary, Alberta, has a faculty of distance education specializing in small business development, IT, health, and environmental science. B.C. alone will need 84000 NEW tourism pros by 2010; 160,000 by 2015. Canadian Tourism College, with campuses in Vancouver and Surrey, is training students online for those opportunities. If your interests are religious, Providence Theological Seminary has been offering courses online for three years, featuring Web-based learning/audio-visual lectures. Even learning another language or how to teach English is available. Ontesol offers an innovative on-line Teacher Training Course, designed for trainees with little or no experience in teaching English in contemporary ESL classrooms. Just request information from any of these schools, by clicking on the link, or visit our distance education area for a complete listing.

What to Look For
So you’ve decided to look into distance education. You are definitely not alone. When choosing a distance learning program for your online degree there are several points you should keep in mind:

• Choose a school that you know well and has a reputable track record.
  
  
• Make sure that the school is accredited.
  
  
• Be certain that you can earn the degree that you choose from the school.
  
  
• Check to see that the school has adequate technical support for any online problems that may arise.
  
  
• Determine that the faculty is well experienced, educated, and available for any questions or concerns that you may have.
  
  
• Understand fully the payment expectations so that you don't run into any hidden costs later.