Study Overseas

Distance Learning - defined as any learning that takes place when the learner and the provider/faculty are at a geographic distance from each other - is undergoing a phenomenal growth in the United States. Over 2 million students are now enrolled in over 54,000 online distance learning programs.

The unprecedented increase in distance education is due to three major trends: the increased use of personal computers by the public (some 65 million American homes are now Internet-connected); the spread of user-friendly online learning software that allows colleges to launch new distance courses quickly; and the demand from the consumers - students - who place a premium on the convenience and features of distance learning.

The American campus is undergoing a transformation that promises to be the most powerful change in American higher education since the invention of the printed textbook. There are, of course, some faculty who maintain that the 'context' of learning is being sacrificed, that higher education is being 'commodified' and is in danger of losing the diversity which made US colleges the 'envy of the globe'. But most colleges are rushing to embrace the new technology, and statistics suggest that within a decade most students will be primarily distance students who will have periodic and short-term residencies on a campus, perhaps throughout their lifetime.

Other trends in the US distance education scene are that colleges are being forced into becoming global providers, often without understanding the challenges involved. Competition for students is no longer a matter of regional turf battles between colleges in one area, making it truly a global village, and institutions that can deliver the most convenient and relevant educational service will dominate.

There are some serious concerns and problems that come with all of the excitement about distance learning:

• Quality of the educational experience is critical - how can you tell the difference between a high quality school and a sub-standard school from reading a website?
• The expense of most distance courses is a factor; colleges are not discounting the cost of the courses to students, and some are using them as sources of quick cash to pay for projects like new buildings that the distance students may never see.
• The matter of prompt, efficient and competent instructional service/tutoring is also a question to be raised before embarking. Most online classes with more than 20 students in them are frustrating for both faculty and students. Each student is likely to send several dozen emails each week in a 15-week online course, and having more than 20 students in any one class section seems to overload the system. Consequently, the quality of the instruction will deteriorate.
• The acceptance of the academic credits by other academic institutions earned via distance study is a problem. If the US college is not accredited by a 'nationally recognized accrediting agency' such as the DETC or a 'regional' accrediting agency, the chances for credit transfer are almost nil.
• For many students, the lack of face-to-face instruction can lead to a sense of loneliness and frustration, and fewer than half of the distance students finish their courses in many instances. It takes a well-disciplined, mature, self-starting person to persist and finish a course while studying at home or work.
• The quality of the instructional materials is also a major consideration: is the online course merely a boring 'page turner?' Or is it a truly interactive, highly engaging and well-crafted set of learning experiences? How can you find this out before you enroll?

How can students from outside of the US protect themselves from having a 'bad' distance learning experience? Ask these questions before enrolling:

1. Is the college, university or school 'accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency?' To learn which of the hundreds of US accrediting agencies are legitimately 'nationally recognized', consult this website: www.chea.org (There are more than three dozen 'unrecognized' accrediting agencies operating in and near the US. Most of them award worthless accreditation to their client colleges, and most of the students enrolling in these distance study colleges are from outside the US.)

2. Is the college or university properly licensed in its home state? Each of the 50 US States has its own licensing laws, which colleges must obey. You can check their compliance by reading the college's website, or by emailing them to ask.

3. Ask if the college's academic credits will transfer to other colleges in the US. Ask them to name at least three accredited colleges or universities that have accepted their distance program transfer credits.

4. Ask about the college's 'refund policy'. Will you get a portion of your fees refunded if you decide to quit the course? (If there is no refund available after you enroll, this suggests you enroll elsewhere.)

5. Ask how many students are enrolled in each online course. If it is over 25 students per class, be very wary.

6. Ask about how you can obtain the textbooks, the exact hardware and software specifications you will need for your personal computer, and the cost of local and international online Internet charges you should expect in your country. How does the college handle the shipping of textbooks to you? Do they use air or expedited shipping service? How much extra will this cost you? A college with long experience operating globally will know the answers to all of these questions.

7. Find out what the TOTAL costs and charges of what you will have to pay immediately. Often, colleges have 'hidden' fees that are not disclosed in the website catalogue, such as student or virtual library fees, activity or transcript fees. Be sure you know what ALL the costs will be.

8. Avoid permitting anyone from having permission to automatically deduct fees from your personal credit card. Pay your fees yourself as they become due.

9. Ask for the name and address - including the website and email address - of the college's accrediting agency and state licensing agency. Save these addresses for later use, should a problem arise. US federal law requires recognized accrediting agencies to publish this information to prospective students.

10. Ask for permission to audit or visit an online class for a brief period to see if you like it. Also, inquire about online library and database resources that are offered to its distance students. Do you have to pay extra to use these virtual resources?

Chances are that if you select a US college or school that is accredited by a 'nationally recognized agency', you will have a wonderful and exciting learning experience. But you cannot be too cautious about selecting a distance school - there are hundreds of 'bad apples' in the global barrel of educational institutions, and the best advice is 'Buyer Beware'.

Visit the DETC website at www.detc.org and check the resources, with links to directories of legitimate and reputable US distance learning institutions... and always do your homework before you enroll!

Author
Michael P Lambert
Executive Director
Distance Education & Training Council
www.detc.org