What is Distance Education?
In general, Distance Education at Chabot College refers to the alternative mode of course delivery, usually at a “distance” from the classroom or campus, but the real benefit is the ability to obtain education “anywhere, anytime.” In general, DE courses fulfill the same general education and transferability requirements as regular courses, but the course is delivered in alternative modes such as the internet, video, CD-ROM, or any combination, sometimes with on-campus meetings. Coursework can be completed at the campus, at home, or almost anywhere – flexibility is key. Students don’t necessarily need to be technical (although for fully online courses you should be at ease using the internet and have an email account), but most importantly they need to have the discipline to complete their coursework according to the guidelines set by the instructor. To view the schedule of all distance education courses, click here.
Many courses are available to take over the Internet, via satellite, live interactive video and audio conferencing. These courses are offered by the University of Alaska Anchorage, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the University of Alaska Southeast or other community campuses in the UA system. Students are encouraged to contact the respective website for class and registration information. The website addresses are listed below. UAA UAF UAS Student Services can also help students needing information on Distance Ed courses or check out this UA Distance Education Handbook.
Can’t find a course that you need on campus? UA primarily uses four distance delivery methods: Web, telecourse, audio conference, and video conference. All are web based through the current course management system called blackboard. Interaction with instructors and other students take place electronically in an asynchronous format at your home or on campus. Most courses are instructor paced (students meet deadline set by the instructor). Tests are typically conducted online or administered by proctors.To find and register for these courses, go to UAOnline.Check out UA’s distance education web site at:http://www.alaska.edu/distance/ Student Services can also help students needing information on Distance Ed courses.
Distance Education is the process of learning, researching, and interacting outside of a campus environment. In the past, instructional courses taken at a distance were considered “correspondence studies,” or “independent studies.” With the advent of computers and online communication, distance education has been elevated to new heights, enabling the teacher and student to communicate more effectively and efficiently.
