Earning a Degree through Distance Education is better than through a Traditional Institution - Essay Example

Personal Persuasive Essay Earning a Degree through Distance Education is better than through a Traditional The world is borderless in education. There are many tools that may be used to single out the traditional classroom setting as passé and acquire new venues in education: teaching and learning. It is, therefore, that I believe that earning a degree through distance education is better than through a traditional institution. Earning a degree through distance learning is not a new paradigm. It is over three decades old. I thought it was a fiasco when this paradigm started because it was new, it had no prior experience, and it was not credible. I saw it as a tool that some people used to obtain their degrees via this means because they were lazy, not intelligent enough to be accepted in a higher education institution, and they were satisfied with the idea of showing off a diploma no matter where it came from. In the long run, I thought, you have a title from an institution and generally speaking, people do not ask you where you graduated from. The institutions of higher learning used several mechanisms to teach their classes at a distance. They used teleconferencing, audio conferencing, and later on the virtual paradigm. I found that the teleconferencing and the audio conferencing are too expensive to offer classes. The virtual paradigm is less expensive to use to offer classes and it is a new way of reaching out to those that otherwise would not be able to attend to classes and earn a degree from a higher educational institution. With the virtual paradigm I have been able to use my computer, a microphone (if it is synchronized for everyone to communicate simultaneously), use a web camera (if it is also synchronized for everyone to communicate simultaneously). I found out that it is less expensive if I take a class that is non-synchronized. This means that I do not need a microphone or a camera to communicate with the professor or with my classmates. My views have changed since then. I believe that earning a degree through distance education is better than through a traditional institution. I find, however, that it is not an easy task to accomplish. I believe that going through the traditional education program may be easier to accomplish because it has been the model that we have followed for centuries. It is what I am used to. The teacher is present in a classroom and there is simultaneous feedback as I am accustomed to. If we observe the patterns in history, the traditional educational system has had its flaws: absenteeism, illiteracy, behavioral problems, and, low scores in standardized tests performances. I have researched and taken courses using the virtual paradigm which is not synchronized. This means that all members (teacher and students) communicate at different times and at our convenience. To be successful with the non-synchronized virtual paradigm I have to have several qualities as an individual. I have to be responsible, know how to work independently, be organized, and be self-disciplined. If I do not have these qualities I will not be able to succeed in obtaining my degree through distance education using the virtual mode. They are many elements that I have to be able to work with. I need to know: how to use the computer; how to communicate with the professor on-line; how to communicate with my classmates on-line; how to participate in forums; how to write e-mails; follow a class calendar; know what the tasks are; know what the requirements are for the tasks; and know when to submit my tasks before or on their due dates. Although I believe this is a good venue for learning, it will not be a venue for me if I do not have the previously mentioned qualities. This is not for everyone. The positive elements of using this virtual paradigm, is that I am able to work at a self-paced mode. I can work at any time of the day or night. I do not have to be in the rush traffic scenario. I do not have to change clothing. I do not have to listen to lectures if the virtual paradigm is not a synchronized class. I do not have to attend to regularly scheduled classes. I would have to do all of the above in a traditional educational setting. Being able to work from home, gives me the opportunity to do my readings and assignments at my leisure. I am able to do the research using the various search engines, the institutions of higher learning also suggest websites that may accelerate the research process, and the professor and my classmates may recommend others. I am able to leave messages for my professor to read and give me, in less than 24 hours, feedback that will help me: develop my tasks; give solutions to my technical problems with the computer; direct me to the technical support team if it is a complicated matter; to loosen up given my technical phobia; and, ameliorate working independently. Today, many institutions of higher learning are using this virtual paradigm to address the issues of higher education mentioned previously, at a distance. The traditional classroom is not for everyone either. I believe that having a variety of educational tools that will help me in focusing on what I have to do in class will be an asset. The virtual paradigm allows me to meet and work with classmates who may be geographically located at another part of the world. It gives us (professor and students) the opportunity to know about each other: cultures, customs, history, traditions, and idiomatic terms. It gives us the opportunity to share our differences and similarities. This exposure to people from other countries will hopefully make us more sensible and sensitive to other peoples´ needs for satisfaction in educational endeavors. This will give us the opportunity to have contact with people that we may not ordinarily have when we live in small isolated locations. I have been in classes where the person who sits next to me may be from India, for instance, and throughout the semester we have not even exchanged a word. Distance learning gives us the opportunity to share with others and we may not know where anyone is from, unless we share that information. Being in a position where I may be able to work with someone from Alaska, for example, will help us exchange our idiosyncrasies and yet we have still not visited each others´ countries (in this case state). In conclusion, if I were in a position to be able to choose from earning a degree from a traditional classroom setting where I will have to attend to classes on a regularly scheduled time or earn a degree through distance education. I will choose to earn a degree through distance education because for me it is better than earning a degree through a traditional institution. I will be able to make-up my own schedule to study and work on my assigned tasks; deliver the tasks on a particular date not necessarily on a particular day and time; work independently; work in teams with my worldwide classmates to deliver projects; be in constant communication with my professor; be in constant communication with my classmates; receive constant feedback from the members of the class (professor and classmates); learn the venues of learning through a virtual paradigm; and, feel satisfied with my work. I recommend earning a degree through distance education because I feel it is better than earning a degree through a traditional institution by being present in a classroom. As I mentioned in my first paragraph, the world is borderless. We do not need to travel to learn. The technology is readily available for learning purposes at the tips of our fingers. I say, let us use it. Thirty years in history means that we are still at the beginning of the new era of learning through distance. We are the “pioneers” of the future in this virtual learning as a distance paradigm. There is much to learn and there is much to demonstrate to world. I want to be in the forefront of this “new” way of teaching and learning. This paradigm is for me. I want to be part of the virtual paradigm era. I want to excel as a student using the virtual mode. I know that I can and I will. Join me in this “new” endeavor of teaching and learning. We will be the past of our future. We will be part of the “pioneers”. Let us get to know each other as people without biases and/or prejudices. Let us keep the world borderless. Let us make earning a degree through distance education a better offering than what the traditional institutions have been able to offer. Read More