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Distance Learning & Education – Top Ten Myths

Hot Topics in Online Education

Guide to Online Education > Online Education Trends > Hot Topics in Online Education > Top 10 Myths about Distance Education

Distance Learning & Education – Top Ten Myths

Myth #1: Online or Correspondence Schools Are a Scam

Unfortunately, diploma mills do exist — they simply sell degrees to whomever is willing to pay for them, and it is sometimes surprising who's willing to pony up the cash. There are frequent stories in the news about public officials who are found to hold phony degrees. Such schools advertise that they grant "life experience" degrees — in other words, the student can earn a degree without doing any actual work. Those who obtain degrees in this manner are risking their employment and their reputation by doing so.

Legitimate distance learning schools are accredited by one of the regional or national accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). A quick look through CHEA's database will tell you if a school holds legitimate accreditation.

Myth #2: Distance Learning Programs Are Easier than Those at Brick-and-Mortar Schools

This depends upon the student, the program, and the school. If a brick-and-mortar school offers both on-campus and distance learning programs, the course work will be the same, just delivered in a different manner.

According to the book, "The No Significant Difference Phenomenon" by Thomas L. Russellnd and its accompanying Web site, numerous research reports, studies, and academic papers suggest there is "no significant difference" in student outcomes based on the mode of education delivery (face to face or at a distance)." In other words, it's not how students learn that is important, but what they learn.

Myth #3: Distance Learning Students Miss Out on Interaction with Instructors and Other Students

Again, this depends upon the program and the school. Many distance learning institutions hold "class" via webcams and chat rooms, enabling students to listen to course lectures by instructors and interact with other students. In fact, some distance learning schools mandate that students post to a message board for their class a certain number of times a week. If they don't, they risk getting a lower grade. Group work involving a number of students is also built into the curriculum of some distance learning programs, and the students are graded on their group project. (You might be worried that group work will be too difficult at a distance, but, luckily, we've addressed tactics to succeed at online group projects.)

By comparison, class sizes at many brick-and-mortar institutions are growing. Some classes hold several hundred students, and the classes are increasingly being taught by graduate students, not professors. This certainly reduces the amount of classroom interaction between students and instructors.

Myth #4: Distance Learning Is for Students Who Can't Succeed in a "Real" School

Distance learning students are from all walks of life. In fact, many distance learning students are adults who have already earned an undergraduate degree or credits through classroom learning and have just gone back to school via distance learning to upgrade their skill set or earn a graduate degree. To see what we mean, head over to student profiles where you'll meet 70 real, current and former eLearners with stories as diverse as their passions.

Distance learning courses and programs have prepared many students for graduate studies and increased job opportunities. While some distance learning schools have "open enrollment," many others have the same enrollment requirements as their brick-and-mortar counterparts.

Myth #5: A Distance Learning Degree Won't Be Accepted by Employers

Degrees earned through distance learning are gaining wider acceptance by employers all the time. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement to their employees knowing full well that the degrees are being earned online or through other distance learning methods. These include some of the largest corporations in the United States.

According to a 2004 study by the Sloan Consortium, nearly one-third of corporate tuition reimbursements went to online or blended programs. Employers benefit from these programs because they gain a more skilled workforce, and their employees do not have to quit work to pursue higher education. A 2005 survey conducted by Vault.com revealed that 86 percent of employers would be willing to accept a job applicant with an online degree.

Myth #6: Credits Earned via Distance Learning Won't Transfer to Other Schools

Credit transfer is always left at the discretion of the receiving institution. When considering an online degree program, students need to make note of the institution's accreditation. State universities and colleges, and many online schools, are regionally accredited. This means that the school is accredited by one of the six U.S. regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA. Other distance learning schools are nationally accredited by an organization such as the Distance Education and Training Council, which is also recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA.

Credits earned at regionally accredited schools are usually easily transferred to other schools, whether the credits were earned online or on campus. Credits earned at nationally accredited schools may transfer to some, but not all, regionally accredited schools. If a student is considering a nationally accredited school, they should make certain it will meet their current and future needs, including whether a school they want to attend for graduate studies will accept their nationally accredited undergraduate coursework. Read more about the difference between national and regional accreditation.

Myth #7: Distance Learning Programs Are Cheaper

They may not have a campus, but distance learning schools still have expenses to meet, and they do regularly raise tuition rates. There are some great distance learning bargains to be had amongst regionally and nationally accredited schools, but many schools charge the same tuition rate for their online programs as they do their on-campus programs. Some will tack on "technology fees" and proctored examination fees, so students may actually pay more to study via distance learning.

Myth #8: The Quality of the Education Is Lower in Distance Learning Programs

As discussed earlier, brick-and-mortar schools which also offer distance learning programs use the same curriculum and admissions standards whether a student is learning at a distance or not, and these can include SAT or GMAT scores. When issuing degrees or transcripts, those schools don't specify the courses were taken online or on campus, because they are the same courses. Schools that are accredited are expected to adhere to certain education standards or risk being put on probation, or worse—losing their accreditation altogether. Institutions such as Harvard and Cornell offer distance learning courses, and these are universities renowned for the quality of the education they provide.

Myth #9: Anyone Can Succeed in a Distance Learning Course/Program

Distance learning is definitely not for everybody. Earning a few credits or an entire degree via distance learning can be extremely challenging for some people. Before considering a distance learning course, consider the following:

1. Do I work well unsupervised?
2. Am I able to stick to a schedule and avoid procrastination?
3. Can I meet strict deadlines?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, you may want to think carefully enrolling in a distance learning program. While distance learning programs have made great strides in taking steps to make sure the student doesn't feel isolated, it is up to the student to stick to a study schedule, meet their course deadlines, and do large amounts of work independently. Some students find distance learning courses are a very comfortable fit for their lifestyle, while other students need the kind of structure a classroom provides.

Myth #10: A Degree from a Distance Learning School Is Useless Because Nobody Has Heard of the School

There are numerous distance learning programs available today, and students should easily be able to find one that meets their needs. For most employers, the name of the school is irrelevant; the accreditation of the school is what really matters. Many state universities and colleges now offer distance learning programs, so if name recognition is a concern for you, locate a program at a school within your state.

Some very well-known and prestigious colleges and universities now offer distance learning courses and/or programs of some kind, including NYU, Boston University, Villanova, Northwestern, and USC.

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