distance learning information,overview

Attend College from Home
What is Distance Learning?
When colleges started utilizing distance education, quality courses could be attended without the student being physically present in the classroom.
There are a very few schools that use regular snail mail as the method of communication between the students. These days, the internet provides the communication through email, virtual classrooms, chat, test taking, and multimedia lessons.

Accredation and Your Education
Make Your Degree Count
To earn a degree and have it accepted by business and government authorites requires that your college in which you are enrolled be accredited by one or more accreditation commissions.
These commissions must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or state approval agencies.
There are six main commissions that cover the entire United States by geography and are recognized by the Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation .
Regional Commissions for Accrediting Colleges
The regional commissions are seen as the main source of accredation. National agencies are not as important although the more accreditations, the more respected the school.
Some perceive taking courses online and learning off campus is a lower quality of education than learning on campus. A standard of quality is set up to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable education. The regional commissions perform this function so you can make a smart decision concerning your college or university of choice.
Choosing Your College
Start your seach by going through lists of major colleges and the unique course and degree programs they offer. You can filter you search by geographic region, private, public, non-profit, for-profit, number of students, and degree type. Call each school to learn more about their accreditations.
They should be very knowlegable on this subject as most people are concerned that their distance learning should be legit. If the representative is not informed, then it's a bad sign. Poor customer service reflects on the college itself. Since you are not able to physically be on the campus, your conversations and communication with the school should be very easy and prompt.
If they do not service your requests as you would like, they may be understaffed or have ineffecient customer relationship management and may lack in other areas as well. Distance Learning only allows you a few methods to communicate such as phone, email, and fax. Spending a good amount of money on a college should provide you a smooth line of communication between your professors and other faculty.

Advantages
- No relocation required
- Work from anywhere with an internet connection
- Save time by not having to travel to physical classrooms
- Tuition is generally cheaper
- Flexible class schedules
- Work when you want
Disadvantages
- No social interaction
- No personal tutor attention
- No extracurricular activities
- Motivation and focus may be a problem
- No parties
Eligibility for Courses
Every school has unique student eligibility requirements. Most of them require a high school degree or GED and that you are at least 18 years of age, however some schools do not have this requirement. If the student is foreign or uses English as a second language, the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL is usually required.
Aside from the school's particular requirements, you as a student must ensure you have access to the classes and coursework. A reliable computer with an internet connection should be all you need. Always have a backup plan in case you computer fails to work. This could be a friend's computer, library, internet cafe, or a Kinko's. Most schools have a technical support team to assist you.
Types of Degrees Availiable
Different colleges that offer distance learning all have different degree types. During your search for the right school, you will encounter opportunities to obtain a Bachelor's degree, MBA, PhD, among others. Make sure the school is accredited by one of the major six accreditation agencies. This is very important for your degree to be considered the same level as if you physically attended college classes.
Paying Your College Bills
Once you find the right school, you may need help paying for it. Funding for your distance learning can be in the form of student loans, government education grant, and scholarships. You must be enrolled in an accredited school tm> to receive government funding. You can apply online using the FAFSA form and receive government loans such as Stafford, Perkins or PLUS Loans .