Distance learning is defintely the future as it can cut costs radically.
However, group learning and mentoring cannot be automated.
Every course designer should keep this in mind, and formulate residency requirements, e.g. at the end of the study phase.
Public-private partnerships can help to develop such educational institutions, which can reduce the cost of higher education for the motivated learner.
said. I may say our local experience with distance learning is not bad, it's good. However, it seems that it depends on 3 items; the candidate's motivation, the subject area, and management. Human science programs mostly have the best chance for successfulness.
الدراسة المباشرة في المكان والزمان المعلومين أفضل من الدراسة عن بعد ويعتمد ذلك على طبيعة الظروف النفسية والاجتماعية والبيئية والاقتصادية واختلاف واقع الحال من مجتمع لآخر
اكثر الدول الناميه لا تعترف بالدراسه عن بعد لانه عندها مجموعه من الجامعات الرصينه التي تعتمدها عند معادله الشهاده واغلب الجامعات التي تعتمد الدراسه عن بعد غير موجوده ضمن هذي الجامعات.اما رايي الشخصي فان
الدراسه عن بعد لا باس بها مادام الطالب يؤدي الامتحانات المطلوبه الكترونيا وبزمن محدد به وقت الامتحان
absolutely I believe in this type of education. In Syria, we have The Syrian Virtual University which ,I think, is the first virtual university established in the Arab world. However, the network and the quality of internet services still the main challenge to be overcome in this context. BTW, I agree with the remote education both locally and outside.
Distance learning is defintely the future as it can cut costs radically.
However, group learning and mentoring cannot be automated.
Every course designer should keep this in mind, and formulate residency requirements, e.g. at the end of the study phase.
Public-private partnerships can help to develop such educational institutions, which can reduce the cost of higher education for the motivated learner.
Distance learning may be effective and beneficial for theoritical sciences and helps reduce cost and effort in developing and other countries. However, I do not think it is adequate for applied sciences due to lack of hands-on real experience and actual on-site applications.
Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak The educational design of residency requirements does matter very much; these differ from professional field to field, but cost effectiveness is a strong argument in favor of distance learning.
What do you think about distance study? Do you expect it to succeed in developing countries under the circumstances it is going through?
Based on my personal experience - generally distance study is doing well in developing countries because there are cost saving plus the adoption of new ICT technologies to improve the leaning experience i.e. almost similar to the onsite learning e.g. using video conferencing / Skype for communications, delayed / recorded / live broadcast of onsite lecturing, colloquiums etc., access to Virtual Library, eJournals etc.
Moreover, to some working adults, distance study is convenient or the only way as they need to work full time and inconvenient to be away from their family.
Others might comment the following are missing from distance study e.g. discipline, lacking the see & feel of campus lifestyle etc. which I think is rather subjective from one person to the other.