Pros and cons of distance education
As can be expected, there are both advantages and downsides to distance education. In general, the benefits are considered to outweigh the negative aspects. Ultimately, a judgement of the pros and cons of distance education will depend on individual needs and emphases.
Pros
- Staying at home - Expenses and disruptions of moving are not necessary.
- Keeping the job - Evening, weekends, vacations, etc can be used for learning and thus the career is not endangered.
- Less impact on family - More time is spent at home and moving to another place is not necessary.
- Work at your own pace - you can take whatever time you need and adapt the programme accordingly.
- Increased flexibility - apart from the format also the contents can be individualized thus encouraging specialization.
- Competitive price - Distance education incurs fewer costs than traditional studying at university.
Cons
- Little or no personal interaction with fellow students
- Little or no personal interaction with professors/instructors
- Lack of pressure from deadlines
- Little support with difficulties especially regarding fees, buying books, or scheduling exams
- Difficulties in integrating studies as a substantial part into real life
- Prejudices against and doubts about the quality of distance learning