Hate going to school? Now there’s a way out. It’s called distance learning and involves taking educational or online training courses.
No, you’re not really playing hooky. You’re actually taking online courses at home that you would have been taking at a high school or college campus.
For the too-busy-bringing-home-the-bacon family breadwinner, a distance learning online course can offer opportunities to beef up the old résumé or qualify for a promotion. For the diploma seeker, it can mean getting that high school equivalency.
For the disabled, the chronically ill, the stay-at-home mom and all others who want to get online with the rest of the world, distance learning can open doors to new wonders. You can even earn a college degree through distance learning.
While many of today’s distance learning programs employ e-mail or some other Web-based delivery system using the Internet, distance learning can involve courses delivered through television, video, DVD, CD, audiotapes, fax or phone. Advancing technology continues to expand the options available.
Nevertheless, many misconceptions prevent people from considering distance learning as an option. These three myths head the list of misguided notions:
True or false?
- Coveted colleges don’t accept high school diplomas from online courses.
False! As long as the online training school is accredited by the proper regional board, most colleges accept diplomas from distance learning schools in the same manner they accept diplomas from traditional schools. - College degrees from online universities don’t impress prospective employers.
False! Once again, as long as proper accreditation is in place, your distance learning degree is as good as one from any Ivy League university. There are more than 6,421 accredited institutions in the United States. Most employers realize that distance learning requires a great deal more personal discipline than education at traditional brick and mortar institutions. - Some potential employers do not recognize a certificate of completion from online computer training courses.
False! As long as you demonstrate you can do the work and can score well on any required pre-employment test, you’ll be considered for the job.
Distance learning today is so prevalent, most colleges and universities offer at least some, if not all, of their curriculum through distance learning and online courses. It’s even possible to qualify for scholarships, grants and loans for the purpose of distance learning.
To be successful at distance learning, it’s important to have fundamental computer skills. Before working on that diploma or degree, it might make sense to undertake computer software training via the Internet. Some companies offer free computer training and online courses, usually on a free trial basis as an entry to a membership and subscription program that automatically sends more computer software training discs on a regular basis.
One way to participate in a distance learning program is to opt for Microsoft® online computer training courses. First, go to www.microsoft.com to see what the software manufacturer has to offer. Then, check out other companies that offer online tutorials.
It’s also possible to get computer training through the local office of your state’s Department of Employment Development or your county’s Department of Human Services. For example, in California, employment readiness training, including computer training, is available for free at one-stop centers, some of which are called “Job Link.”
Employment recruiting firms also offer their clients opportunities to brush up on computer knowledge as well as learn new software. So, if you register with one such recruiting firm, you might get your computer training free or at a very low cost.
But, if you want to learn at your own pace in the privacy of your own home, distance learning is the best choice for computer training.
Another benefit of distance learning is that you can take a distance learning online course offered in another country … without ever leaving your home office. While such courses may not be counted toward diplomas or degrees, they do look good on résumés.
To find a distance learning program that suits your needs, do an Internet search for “distance learning” and peruse the list that pops up on your screen. Just search the Internet for the keywords “online training” or “online courses” for more information. For more specified searches try “Microsoft online courses,” “free computer training” or “online computer training courses.”
To research specific careers and the government’s projection on which jobs will be in most need of workers in the future, go to www.dol.gov and scan the U.S. Department of Labor’s statistical information on work trends of today and tomorrow. Your state government web page will also offer similar information. To access your state government web site, you’ll need to know the official abbreviation for your state. For California, the web address looks like this: www.ca.gov.
Distance learning opens a world of opportunities that otherwise might not be available to adults who have already entered the workforce. If you want to move up and out of your current situation, and you have the motivation and self-discipline to apply yourself to the task at hand, distance learning might be for you.
