The
distance-learning students have
a much greater choice of course
and university than ever before.
But how do you make the right
choice of course to fit both career
goals and lifestyle needs? The
Indian Student investigates…
 It
pays to do your homework thoroughly
- below is a checklist of the
things you might like to consider,
with indications of how you make
judgements on some of these issues.
We are approaching this advice
from the perspective of staff
that for some have helped others
plan, design and implement their
course of study. From questionnaire
feedback and discussions with
students, as well as from comments
by experienced distance learning
providers, we have found that
academic support and the opportunity
for social interaction is as important
as course content for a distance-learning
student. Many distance learners
can feel isolated, and find socialising
and working with other distance
learners helpful in maintaining
motivation and confidence. Personal
and academic support from tutors
and peers is also a key to success.
Your starting point
is to be clear about your needs
from lifestyle and career points
of view - how long will the course
take? Can I stop and start? How
much does it cost? Do I need a
PC with Internet access and how
much will this cost me? Is the
course content what I want - does
it meet my immediate and future
career needs?
You then need to
think about your study demands.
This is particularly important
if you have never previously studied
'at a distance'. How much time
will I need to set aside each
week? What learning activities
are involved and do they have
sufficient variety? What feedback
on my ideas and my progress will
I get? What study skills support
is available? Then, finally you
need to explore what level of
social integration there is. Is
there an initial induction week
in your home country? Are there
local mentors? What roles do fellow
students play -group work and
conferencing at a distance? Will
I meet them before having an electronic-based
discussion with them? Are residentials
optional or compulsory?
How can you assess
university standards of delivery?
You can't fully gauge this until
you are immersed in the course,
but you can get some ideas from
the quality of response to your
initial enquiry and any application
you make. Efficient communication
may give you confidence that the
course itself will be run effectively.
A course website can give an indication
of how effective the communication
and course management is likely
to be.
The website and
any paper based information sent
when enquiring should provide
details about all aspects of the
course.
Your
Checklist
 Lifestyle
- Can I:
- Choose when and where to
study?
- Continue my career with
minimal disruption?
- Benefit from flexible time
scales (minimising disruption
to normal/work/social practices)
- Take breaks during the
course of study to accommodate
unforeseen circumstances without
loss of achieved academic
credits?
- Benefit from geographical
flexibility, which allows
for continuing study on the
same programme even if re-located
to another part of the world?
- Commit to the weekly time
demands and the years of study
demanded of the course?
- Gain credit for my studies
even if I don't go on to the
end?
Relevance
to Career - Can I:
- Choose a course which is
shaped by the employment sector
outside the university, or
which has professional body
status?
- Apply what is learned from
the course to the workplace?
- Undertake assessments that
relate to normal work activities?
- Apply for academic credit
for my previous work experience
(Accreditation of prior Experiential
Learning)?
Learning
Activities - Can I:
- Experience a range of learning
activities? E.g. self-study
materials (paper or electronics-based);
video/audio tape; group work;
computer conferencing tutorials;
seminars; video conferences;
lectures; e-mail
- Develop both my key skills
and professional skills through
the course activities and
assignments?
Assessment
& Feedback - Can I:
- Experience a range of assessment
activities? E.g. essays, reports,
group work, case studies,
examinations, self assessment
tasks
- Identify how and when feedback
is given?
Academic
& Personal Support - Can I:
- Interact with other students
at 'summer school' or residentials,
and thereafter continue discussions
via electronic means?
- Gain support from a mentor
or personal tutor?
- Meet University staff during
their visits to the region?
- If I am in the area, meet
with other distance-learning
students who can provide support
and guidance?
- Have access to University
staff and other recourses
via the Internet, phone, e-mail
or fax?
General
Benefits - Can I:
- Obtain value for money?
- Gauge how efficiently the
administration of the course
is likely to be?
- Find out what central university
resources I have to access
to? E.g. library support service
for distance learners career
advice, etc
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