Distance Learning Experience...

Well, Rachel, my dl experience is limited to two courses that I took through Iowa State University....One of them rivaled all of my graduate level on-campus courses. I didn't find them to be isolating...much to the contrary, I found that I had 10 times the contact with the professors than I did on-campus....regrettably, not face-to-face, but much more....personal. One of the courses that I took required group work and we were paired up with other graduate students and had to meet in chat-rooms, etc to put together projects. It was really neat to meet people from all corners and to come together and try to pull together a virtual project! I got to know other people in the class and really enjoyed the entire experience...it is definately something that I'd do again...as a matter of fact, I'm registering for a dl class this spring...



As a non-traditional student (ie wife with three kids) I find the format much easier to manage. I can listen to lectures via streaming audio when the kids are in bed....I took an on-campus course at UF that was also offered in the dl format...I took it in an on-campus format...but all of our lectures were video-taped and the dl students took the same exams and had the same requirements as we did. If I had to miss a class, I simply logged on and listened to the virtual lectures....My other courses had lectures via streaming audio and you downloaded outlines of the notes to add to and follow along.



I think that technology will play an increasing role in academics and that it can offer the same quality as a face-to-face situation......I would never do away with the on-campus face-to-face format, but I think that distance learning definately has a spot in education for the self-directed student.





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Kris

oooooooops...this was supposed to be a response, not a new thread...sorry!

[DCJenn]

I took an online course at the same time I took a regular course with the same school. I was thrilled with either of them and ended up dropping the program altogether. That said, my aunt just completed her MBA through a distance learning program and thought it was great. She made good friends through the program and got a huge raise once she was finished.



I guess it depends on how motivated your are (I was NOT) and whether you 'need' the degree (again- I had a Master's, this was a second one) and how disciplined you can be.



I think it's great for those who can do it!



Jenn

I took 5 Master's level courses via distance learning. For the most part it was a pretty good experience. Some of the instructors were far more computer capable than others and that made a big difference. There were weekly chat times and it turned into a laborious process if the instructor wasn't particularly computer savvy. It also made a difference as to waht course was taught. Medical Ethics worked beautifully over the internet, Biostatistics did not.



I would do it again under the right circumstances.



wendy