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DISTANCE LEARNING
Many people assume the terms "distance learning" and "distance education" means "on-line" or "computer-based". While all on-line and computer-based courses are distance learning/education courses, not all distance learning/education courses are on-line or computer-based.
Distance learning courses can be categorized as shown in the following table, taken from The College Blue Book: Distance Learning Programs:
| SPECIFIC PLACE | ANY PLACE | |
|---|---|---|
|
spECIFIC TIME (asynchronous) |
Two-way interactive videoconferences Two-way interactive audioconferences Traditional on-campus classes |
On-line courses (interactive computer conferences, chat rooms, etc.) Radio broadcasts TV broadcasts, satellite, cable |
|
ANY TIME (synchronous)
|
On-line courses (newsgroups, bulletin boards, web sites, e-mail) CD ROMs, DVDs, Videotapes Audiotapes Correspondence courses |
Is Distance Learning for You?
Anyone who's considering on-line courses (rather than another type of distance learning) should take the time to read a short article published by the University of Illinois listing the characteristics of successful on-line students.
Even more useful are the many on-line assessment tools available to help you determine if computer-based distance learning is for you. Here are a few. You should go through at least one of them before deciding whether to take college courses via distance learning or by sitting in class with other students.
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Am I Ready for Distance Learning? (Florida Distance Learning Consortium)
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Is Distance Learning Right for Me? (Grand Rapids Community College)
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Self-evaluation for students considering taking Distance Learning courses (DANTES)
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Self-Assessment for Distance Learning (Oregon Network for Education)
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Distance Learning Readiness Survey (Harper College)
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Is Distance Education Right for Me? (Boise State University)
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Student Online Readiness Tool (University of Georgia)
DANTES and Distance Learning
DANTES is the acronym for a DoD organization (the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) dedicated to helping military personnel and, in many cases, their dependents and civilian employees further their educations through other-than-classroom courses.
DANTES's web site provides an overview of distance learning services provided by DANTES.
DANTES Independent Study Catalog
DANTES has negotiated Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with 45 regionally accredited institutions of higher learning that allow eligible personnel to take more than 6,000 individual courses. Through the MOU, participating schools agree to
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accept the DANTES Enrollment Form for Service Members (DANTES 1562/31) from all active duty military personnel. Some schools may also require completion of their own forms.
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provide DANTES with information on fees for tuition, textbook prices, special fees, and essential course information (which is published by DANTES in a program catalog).
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provide rapid turnaround time for initial ordering and distributing of course materials and for lesson and examination grading.
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provide refunds according to institutional policy as stated on the Institution Information page.
You can find a huge number of quite inexpensive courses in the DANTES Independent Study Catalog.
DANTES External Degree Catalog
DANTES has negotiated Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with 107 regionally accredited institutions of higher learning with little or no residency requirement for degree completion. Together, these schools offer eligible personnel approximately 100 associate, 225 baccalaureate,100 graduate degree, and about 45 credit-bearing certificate programs. The MOU for the External Degree Program is the same as for the Independent Study Program above. You can find these degree programs listed in the DANTES External Degree Catalog.
Nationally Accredited Distance Learning Programs
DANTES has compiled a list of courses and programs available from schools accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council and other national accrediting bodies in one volume of Nationally Accredited Distance Learning Programs. Many of these programs are technical or vocational in nature.
Links from this page to non-Coast Guard sites are provided as a customer service and do not represent any implicit or explicit endorsement by the United States Coast Guard of any commercial or private issues, products, or services presented there.
Commercial Distance Learning Degree Directories
Alternative Knowledge Sources
If you're trying to acquire knowledge about a specific subject, but aren't necessarily looking for college credit or a degree, you can find thousands of courses, lectures, etc. through the following sites.
These are not for-credit courses. But if you want to brush up on a particular subject or learn something in preparation for a test (e.g., CLEP test, DSST, GRE, etc.) or if you’re home-schooling your children, these are excellent resources.
Specific Colleges & Universities with Open Courses (alphabetical)
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Indian Institute of Technology (India)
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Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (Small Business Development Center)
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Open University (United Kingdom)
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University of Southern Queensland (Australia)