Study Overseas

Distance learning is just as effective a way to learn as going through a traditional residency program. It provides flexible, independent study for motivated students. Many students prefer this individual approach to education. They can study where and when they choose. But with so many programs available to potential students, choosing the right distance education program can be tricky. After determining what to study, there are several important aspects to consider when choosing a distance-learning institution. They include accreditation, legitimacy and methods being used to teach the course.

Step 1 - Choosing The Right Institution

The first step to choosing an institution is to determine what course of study to follow. Institutions range from high school diploma programs, vocational courses, and college degree programs. Schools accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (http://www.detc.org) currently offer more than 500 fields of study with an array of programs ranging from accounting to yacht design. DETC accredits schools offering courses at the Kindergarten through First Professional Degree level. When choosing an institution, make sure its courses are up-to-date, that it maintains competent staff and instructors, that it adheres to ethical standards, that it is truthful in its advertising methods and that it is financially responsible and can continue to meet its obligations to students.

Set 2 - Check the Course is Accredited

It is important to choose a distance learning institution that is accredited. Accreditation is a non-governmental, peer review process designed to determine whether a school meets specific standards. The school voluntarily submits to a thorough evaluation process to prove it can meet and maintain the accrediting agency's published standards. Accreditation can benefit a school by encouraging improvement through self-evaluation process and by assuring the public that the school has clearly defined objectives and is working to improve and maintain all aspects of its operations. It also is important to ensure the school is recognized by a recognized accrediting association. The United States Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are the two third-party agencies that recognize legitimate accrediting agencies in the United States (CHEA's list of institutions accredited by recognized associations can be found at http://chea.org/search/default.asp). The Distance Education and Training Council is the premier accrediting association for distance learning institutions in the U.S., with 80 years of leadership in the distance learning field.

Step 3 - Check You Have the Right Materials

Distance learning programs use almost every form of modern communications technology. Some distance learning schools are primarily "correspondence based," which means you send and receive materials through the mail. Other institutions operate almost entirely online and do not use physical textbooks or other paper resources ”information is provided on Web sites, online libraries, discussion boards and live Internet chats. Many schools offer a combination of correspondence and online materials. Some schools still use textbooks and give students the option of mailing assignments instead of completing or submitting them online, but others have moved to completely online programs. Your preference of learning methods ”be it correspondence, online, or a combination of both ”is personal, and you should find the institution that best suits your needs.

Step 4 - Check There is Ongoing Support

Institutions are encouraged to foster communication between faculty, staff, and students. Instructors usually mail assignments to the student, complete with detailed feedback. Professors also communicate via e-mail with students. One of the Internet's most important roles in distance education may be the facilitation of communication between students and faculty. Live chats, discussion boards, and e-mail help students develop a sense of community when taking a distance learning course; a classmate or instructor is only an e-mail message away.

Step 5- Avoid Diploma Mills

It is vital to avoid diploma mills while searching for a distance learning institution. Diploma mill operations can range in amount of academic work required: Some "schools" offer degrees for cash and no required work, others require a very minimal amount of work, and others may resemble the distance education programs that have managed to secure legitimate accreditation. These schools may have programs that take more than a year to complete, but in some cases more than half of the credits will come from life or work experience. Diploma mills generate a half-billion dollars in revenue every year. In this upside-down version of academe, words like "university" and "doctorate" don't mean what they do to the rest of us. Yet its graduates claim the same credentials on their resumes and often put the familiar initials, "Ph.D.," after their names. Diploma mills have been around for a long time ”some experts trace their beginnings in the United States to the mid-19^th century ”but their unprecedented growth in the past decade shows no sign of slowing.

The best way students can avoid diploma mill scams is to check the accreditation of the institution. Confirm that the institution is accredited by a recognized body (you can check CHEA's list of recognized programs and accreditors here: www.chea.org. In addition to the CHEA site, the State Department runs a Web site www.educationusa.state.gov that is an invaluable resource for international students wanting to study in the United States. If you find a school offering to grant you a degree based mostly or entirely on life/work experience, beware! You may be dealing with a diploma mill or questionable institution.

Distance learning is a viable option for many students. When choosing an institution it is important to find one accredited by a recognized association, and one offering courses via your preferred method. It is essential to avoid diploma mills while conducting the search. But distance learning can be a rewarding education option, and a suitable institution can be found if care is used during the search.