first hand experience in distance learning
by Ms. Jasna Tingle
Distance learning, in a new meaning of the word, does not include correspondence schools or television educational programmes, but learning with the help of the Internet. It means that the teachers create courses and offer them over the Internet. The students have an access to them at any time and any place.That is perfect for the education of employed people or in situations where the students are far away from the school. I have participated in a course on Distance Learning, which was on-line. There were about a hundred of us from different countries (such as Finland, Mongolia ) divided into eleven groups. Teaching materials, as well as group or individual exercises we got from the web course. We communicated by e-mail and we uploaded our final works. The whole thing was very interesting and the course turned out to be an excellent first-hand and practical experience. The advantage of such learning is in choosing the time, the speed and the sequence of learning. Also in having an access to all the materials and other Internet sources on one place and even undergoing examinations. Possible disadvantages are usually of technical nature (no access to a computer or Internet, slow connections ). One could consider a disadvantage a lack of personal contact. But there are ways to minimize them with careful planning and conducting the course, monitoring and encouraging student's motivation. After all, behind every distance learning course there is a teacher who conducts it. I would never dare to say that a machine can replace a teacher, nor would I support such an idea. The difference, and the advantage lies in the fact that, by using the advanced technologies, the teacher gains more time for improvement of teaching and his own.
Interview
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Sonja Prišćan
Interview
- Jill Foster
Interview
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George Munroe
Distance
learning
Interview
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Vesna
Vrga
Basic
English-Croatian Dictionary
