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Distance Learning Cons:
Here are some factors that could negatively affect your success with distance learning courses:

1. No Instructor Face Time
- If your learning style is one where you like personalized attention from your teachers, then online education will probably not suit you.

2. Perceptions/Reputation
- While more mainstream colleges and universities embrace distance learning, there still is a stigma attached to distance education.

3. Requires New Skills/Technologies
- If you’re not computer-savvy or are afraid of change or new technologies, then online education will probably not work for you.

4. No Social Interaction
- While you often interact with classmates via email, chat rooms, or discussion groups, there are no real-life social interactions or get-togethers.

5. Making Time
- If you are a procrastinator or one of those people who always needs an extra push to complete work, you may have a hard time making time for your online classes.

6. Little Support
- Students are expected to find their own resources for completing assignments and exams, which is empowering for some, but daunting for others.

7. No Campus Atmosphere
- Part of the traditional college experience, of course, is the beauty of the campus, the college spirit, but you have none of that with distance-education courses.

Source:
Hansen. R.S., Distance Learning Pros and Cons http://www.quintcareers.com/distance_learning_pros-cons.html, 21 July 2009

Distance Learning Pros:
Here are some of the benefits of distance education courses.

1. Convenience
- Take online courses when you need them.
- A course is at your finger tips with a computer with an Internet connection.

2. Flexibility
- With no set class times, you decide when to complete your assignments and readings.
- You set the pace.

3. Availability
- Distance-learning opportunities have exploded over the past few years, with many accredited and reputable programs offered.

4. Cost
- Prices are often cheaper for online courses than traditional college and trade courses, with no housing or meals plans to worry about.

5. Self-Directed
- You set your own pace and schedule, so you control the learning environment.

6. Time Spent in Classroom
- There is no need of travel to a classroom so you have very little wasted time. Note, however, that some distance-education programs still do have an in-class component.

7. No Travel Expenses - You may never even have to leave your house to take an online course, and certainly there are no relocation costs.

8. Accessibility
- You can work on the course just about anywhere you have computer access.

9. Better for Some Learners
- More suitable for people who learn through visual cues and experiential exercises and those who require more time, are language-challenged, or introverted.

10. No Interrupting Job/Career
- Courses are located in cyberspace and controlled by your pace, there is no need to quit your current job, or even take a leave of absence to go back to school.

Source:
Hansen. R.S., Distance Learning Pros and Cons http://www.quintcareers.com/distance_learning_pros-cons.html, 21 July 2009