Benefits of Using Electronic Learning for Distance Education

Distance education or also known as distance learning is an educational process of delivering or transferring knowledge to a student who is physically separated from the teacher. The development of computers and the Internet with their easy and affordable access and availability have made electronic learning or e-learning suitable for distance education. Consequently, many students who could not physically attend traditional classrooms have availed of various distance education programmes with the use of the e-learning approach.

If you are planning to take up a short-term course, or an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate degree on a full-time or part-time basis, but you do not have the time in physically attending classes in a classroom setting, you should consider taking up a distance education program that uses technologies based under the electronic learning approaches or methods. The two types of e-learning  technologies used in delivering distance education – the synchronous and the asynchronous.

The synchronous learning technology is the method of delivery in which the students should be present at the same time during the learning process, but they are not physically present at the same location. The synchronous technologies include educational television and instructional television, direct-broadcast satellite, Internet radio, web conferencing, video conferencing, telephone, and web-based voice-over-Internet-protocol.

The asynchronous learning technology is the method of delivery in which the students would access their educational materials on their own schedules so that they are not required to be present at the same time. The asynchronous  technologies include Internet forum or message board, audio and video recordings, electronic mail, voice mail, and facsimile.

The benefits of using the e-learning approach for distance education includes the student does not have to attend physically the classroom so that he could save money from transportation fares or car fuel costs, the flexible schedules offered by electronic or online classes, and having more time to spend for other personal activities.