Педагогические науки/1. Дистанционное образование

Anna Kirakosian

Oles Honchar National University of Dnipropetrovsk

The Problems of Distance Education: Students’ Perspective

Distance learning has created new learning opportunities for students all over the world. No longer limited by proximity to traditional brick-and-mortar campuses, today's students can find online programs in a host of academic fields. Distance learning offers many benefits, such as convenience, flexibility and sometimes lower tuition rates. However, students must be aware of - and prepared to handle - the problems that can arise from online distance-learning programs.

Technical Issues. One of the most common problems associated with distance learning starts with the technology itself. Distance learning requires students to have an updated operating system, advanced software and an Internet connection. As such, students who lack basic computer skills or have older computers or slow connection speeds may struggle with the fundamentals of an online program and become frustrated with accessing required files.

Lack of Support. Students who are enrolled in 100-percent online learning programs often lack the support and services available on a traditional campus. According to a study conducted at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), students should look for online programs that offer access to tutors, academic planners and schedulers, and technical support. Without these types of supports in place, students who are struggling with course material may become frustrated and disengaged, leading them to drop out.

Isolation. Students who enroll in distance-learning programs can suffer from a sense of isolation. While many online programs promote interaction through message boards and instant messaging as part of their curriculum, some students may continue to feel alienated or isolated, according to the USM study. Not only do distance-learning students lack the ability to interact face-to-face with faculty, but they also miss out on person-to-person feedback from their peers, which, as the study states, can cause students to doubt their own abilities.

Procrastination. To succeed in an online program, students must be motivated self-starters. Most programs allow students to log in whenever they wish -- meaning that as long as they complete their assignments by a certain due date, they're not required to be online at a given time. This flexibility is certainly convenient, especially for adult students who have other responsibilities. However, for the type of student who struggles with procrastination, this academic autonomy can also be a curse. After all, it's easy to put off assignments until later and then find yourself in a panic playing catch-up.

Accreditation and Quality. Despite their marketing campaigns, not all are online programs are created equal. Distance-learning programs associated with traditional universities are usually accredited and will clearly state so on their website. However, if you're looking at a program that exists solely online, be sure to check its accreditation before you send that first tuition payment. You can do this by searching the Council for Higher Education Accreditation online at chea.org or at the U.S. Department of Education's website (ed.gov), using the keyword search: accreditation.

Having covered the issues a student might face while receiving distance education it is only fair to consider the advantages that come with the challenge. Distance learning offers enormous potential for students who want to take a class but are physically unable to attend a traditional classroom. It affords a flexibility that many students find appealing; however, others find this flexibility challenging, intimidating or frustrating. Distance-learning classes can present problems for students in the areas of support, interactivity, commitment and technology.

Support. By its very definition, distance learning implies a physical separation between student and instructor. This creates a challenge for students who might need or desire academic or technical support, and it can quickly become a source of frustration. An effective distance-learning instructor will provide multiple methods of contact, including a phone number, Skype user name and/or email address, along with general availability and response times. Sometimes a "Help" discussion thread is included in an asynchronous environment, to give peers the opportunity to help each other. Even with these support structures in place, however, students new to distance learning will need to adjust to the absence of regular office hours.

Interactivity. Another problem facing distance-learning students is the level and type of interactivity. Similar to the issue surrounding support, the lack of face-to-face interactions between student, teacher and other classmates can be problematic for those new to the distance-learning environment. An effective distance-learning class will incorporate interactive tools, such discussion boards, wikis and blogs, and synchronous audio or video components. Group or paired projects can further foster a sense of interaction and collaboration. A lack of meaningful interactivity may cause students to feel isolated and become discouraged.

Commitment. In a distance-learning class, students must be committed to their own success. A traditional classroom environment carries with it a certain level of social pressure: the teacher and other classmates expect each student to come to class every week, complete the assignments, answer the teacher's questions and actively participate in group projects. In a distance-learning class, these behaviors are expected as well, but the social pressure to comply is absent. Students must possess or learn to develop the self-discipline required to organize their time effectively and participate fully in the learning process.

Technology. The technology required to participate in a distance-learning class must be readily available and fully functional. Furthermore, students must have or acquire a certain level of competency with the technology, including hardware, software and all related accessories, in order to be successful in the course. Technology that is unavailable or unstable quickly becomes a barrier for distance-learning students. Technology that is hard to learn or use is enormously frustrating. Tutorials, user guides and other support systems should be in place for distance-learning students, in order to minimize - if not eliminate - this problem.