Tips to Know When You Enrol For Distance Learning

Education shapes a person’s life and forms a part of the major decisions in people’s lives. Decision making becomes even more difficult in case of higher education. With innumerable options and having to choose what’s the best for you can seem like a daunting task. Enrolling for a college or university is difficult and becoming increasingly competent with each passing day. In the internet age however, education systems and pedagogy are undergoing a change in the form of distance learning. With study material, classroom videos and interaction possible through a virtual medium, distance learning is gradually gaining popularity and more and more people are venturing into this space. However, distance learning has both its pros and cons which must be taken into consideration while opting for it.

Following are some tips for those interested in taking up online courses to help ensure quality education along so that one can keep up to the mark with the standards of formal classroom learning.

Ranking and credibility: This is the first and foremost and the most important criteria to look into while opting for distance education. In order to ensure that the institution from where you’re choosing to complete your degree is later recognised elsewhere and given its due importance, always try checking the accreditation. It is important in the long run because unless your degree is recognised you will be unable to get a job.

Tuition fees: Usually distance education programs come at a lower tuition cost and are therefore affordable and preferred by many. You could try comparing the courses offered by different institutions and its fee structure to choose what’s suitable for you.

Teaching methods and tutor support: While distance education mostly emphasises on self-learning, it is also important to ensure that you get ample study material and have a mentor to guide you through the learning process. At some point or the other, you may face problems or have queries; the institution must provide certified tutors to help you with your study.

Distance learning in India: The concept is fast catching up with Indians. Many professionals too, take up distance learning in certain professional courses to add to their skills. There exist plenty of courses offered by different universities; however caution must be exercised while choosing institutions because many of these turn out to be farce and the time and money spent on learning can end up going waste with no recognition given to your earned credits. Government recognised institutes are more popular and also affordable and have been designed in order to reach out to the masses, creating more awareness and opportunity through e-learning. IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University), Dr B R Ambedkar Open University, Sikkim Manipal, Annamalai University, Netaji Subhas Open University, ICFAI (for MBA learning), Symbiosis Centre for distance learning are some of the well-known and reputed institutes offering distance learning courses in India. IGNOU has its study centres in all major cities of India and has its head office at New Delhi. Delhi education and learning has undergone a positive change through the introduction of such distance learning courses and the rest of India shall soon catch up.

Look for Courses Online: Classifieds based website offers various ads and classifieds on distance learning courses. Meet prospective buyers and sellers virtually through these medium, buy text books and learning materials, find out about online courses and training institutes all with the click of a mouse.