by Connie Morrow

Created on: February 05, 2009   Last Updated: February 17, 2009

Today, distant learning is very popular. Many mothers with small children enroll in distant learning classes to obtain a degree while caring for their children. Employees may benefit from online courses that will benefit them in their current employment and sometimes may be financed by the employer. Some students right out of high school enter these classes either for convenience so he or she can get a full-time job or because the degree program of choice is not offered at the local schools. Other students may return to school to obtain a degree for a change in career. The majority of distant learning courses are only a few weeks long (5 to 9 weeks) so that the degree may be obtained in a short period of time.

My choice to enroll in a distant learning program was due to illness. After having to quit my job years ago because of illness, I started a small business and worked from home for several years. A few years ago, I was declared totally disabled; no longer able to carry out my previous job activities. I now need a new career which I would be able to perform from my bed in the future, if need be. I chose a university where the online degree program is setup exactly the same as the campus program (16 weeks). My major is Communications with a minor in English. My long term goal is to teach online courses, write short articles and novels.

As a full-time student, each day between 9 and 10 a.m. I check the syllabus of each class to determine what work needs to be done first according to the due date. I also check the computer site for each class to see if there are additional directions. My email also must be checked to catch additional instructions or comments by instructors.

I then start my reading and note-taking on the most urgent assignment. On occasion, reading of two chapters may be required. A break is needed in the afternoon for lunch. If the reading is completed by the early evening, the written assignment is started. Work is stopped at 4 p.m. to get dinner prepared.

The next morning, the assignment from the previous evening is completed. I then go through the ritual again of checking to determine which assignment would be next. The reading is done along with any related videos and/or modules. This process is repeated each day until homework from all four subjects is completed. Once several students have turned in homework, it is necessary to go back and read the work of at least two students and make comments. If there are any quizzes or tests, these must also be completed.

The instructors can be emailed with any questions and are allowed 24-48 hours to reply. A student needs to be determined to keep up and make sure all assignments are completed, as the instructors will not remind you as in high school. I enjoy my classes very much. I look forward to graduation in the future with an expectant GPA of no less than 3.5.

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