A Study of the Factors Influencing Satisfaction with Distance Learning

摘要

Distance learning is hardly a new phenomenon. For more than a century, it has allowed busy professionals, whose schedules prevented them from taking regular classes, to continue their education. But mainstream access to the World Wide Web, compressed video, and microwave systems has transformed this largely electronic access to a bona fide educational option. About two-thirds of the 3,200 accredited four-year colleges and graduate schools in the United States now supplement campus offerings with classes via one or more of these media (Clarke, 1999). Among the schools cited were Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Purdue University, all known for their willingness to adopt innovative approaches to education. Distance learning courses can be a great way to stay competitive in today's rapidly changing workplace, if a person has what it takes to thrive outside the tradition-al classroom structure. Before trad-ing in pencil and paper for a com-puter or TV screen, some old fash-ioned homework is advisable. The American workplace has undergone significant changes. Technology is making it possible for employees to work from anywhere in the world. Employees are being given more power, responsibility, and flexibility. All of these changes are leading to better opportunities and more skills. Now, those change are trickling down to the educational system. Both commercial and tradi-tional educational institutions offer distance learning or education pro-grams. Some programs offer com-plete degrees while others only pro-vide courses toward professional development, personal enrichment, or partial programs. Whatever these programs offer, distance learning is here to stay. So are innovations in live broadcast and live Internet instruc-tion. Distance learning technology increases the flexibility with which students may participate in higher education, and makes many pro-grams available to the students who could not otherwise participate. Distance learning may decrease the opportunities for peer interaction, but it is a medium for increasing community access to education. Students gain access to courses from wherever they choose.