What Everyone Must Know About Distance Learning

Advantages of Online Distance Education for Adult Learners

Aug 14, 2009 David R. Wetzel

The number of adults enrolling in distance learning courses is growing every year. This increasingly popular manner of attending college, which allows adult learners to maintain full time employment and meet family commitments, provides many advantages for these students. Besides these two benefits, adult students appear to be learning more than students only enrolled in traditional classroom settings.

This is evidenced by a study completed by the U.S. Department of Education, which found that adult learners enrolled in distance learning degree programs have definite advantages over students enrolled in traditional classroom degree programs. As a result, students enrolled in online distance education perform better in course work than non-online students (Evaluation of Evidence Based Practices in Online Learning, U.S. Department of Education, May 2009).

The study also found that adult learners enrolled in distance learning online schools, which combine online learning with periodic face-to-face meetings with classmates and instructors, performed better than all other students enrolled in continuing education programs. These combined distance learning and episodic meeting courses are the fastest growing segment of courses being offered by colleges today.

Online Learning Advantages

The same study found that ability of adult learners enrolled in online distance learning schools to out-perform students in traditional classroom settings is evidenced by:

• The means of course delivery through the use of online technology gives students control of their actions, resulting in a positive effect on learning. This is primarily due to adult learners being more engaged in the learning process, because they have the capability to focus on strategies and resources more suited to their learning styles.

• Distance learning provides opportunity for online learner self-reflection and self-monitoring. This is primarily due to the time saved from not needing to commute to or attend a traditional class.

• Online learners spent more time on completing course requirements than students enrolled in traditional classroom settings. As in the previous point, this is primarily due to the time saved from not needing to commute to or attend a traditional class.

• Online school programs provide more opportunity for collaboration among students. This collaboration provided learners with the advantage of learning course materials than typically observable in traditional classroom settings.

These advantages of online distance learning were evident in adult learners across all subject areas, regardless of courses being targeted for undergraduate or graduate college work.

Impact on Adult Education

The advantages are very good for students enrolled in adult education programs. The following are additional examples of the impact of distance education. Learners:

• Have greater opportunity for flexibility in completing course requirements. Students complete online college course requirements with minimal impact on work and family commitments.

• Have increased opportunities for connecting online learning materials through real world experiences. This is especially significant because most students have full time jobs and can make connections between learning and on-the-job experiences.

• Can enroll in part-time online degree programs which eliminate limitations typically encountered in traditional course offerings, classroom settings, and programs.

• Can take advantage of financial aid opportunities they may not be otherwise qualified to receive.

• Can enroll in online distance learning programs to make a change in careers without affecting current employment commitments.

Making Connections With Continuing Education

This study provides a strong endorsement for distance learning as a meaningful way of completing continuing education programs for adults. Because of the of the findings of the study the U.S. Department of Education, every adult wavering between enrolling in an online learning course or a traditional classroom course, should opt for the online option.

Since students enrolled in online distance learning programs typically out-perform students in traditional classroom settings, the flexibility of these programs and knowledge gained tend to provide better opportunities for adults completing online degree programs. This is especially true for students completing college courses which combine online learning with periodic class meetings.

With the ever-increasing opportunities for adults to enroll in distance learning schools and the advantages of these programs, adults must seriously consider enrolling in online distance learning programs.