by Silva Payne

Created on: February 28, 2010

Distance learning is, in its simplest form, where students undergo a structured course of instruction away from the main location of delivery. For adults, distance learning can often be the only way that they can take a particular course due to work and family commitments. If you decide that distance learning is for you, you will need to prepare yourself and your home in order to take full advantage of your course.

Most modern distance learning courses are taught using one or more of the following media: traditional text books, DVD, on-line tutorials and other materials, and telephone support. Some also include face-to-face tutorials and support, either at a local school or community centre, or through video conferencing. However, the content of the course is almost certainly to be the equivalent of any that can be studied in a traditional educational establishment. Distance learning is not a quick route to gaining a qualification.

If you are sent a pre-course reading list, then you will need to make time to complete that exercise. Reading lists are designed to give you an overview of the topics that you will be studying on your course. They are often referred to in the coursework materials, and if you are not familiar with the works on the reading list, whether they are books, journals, reports or studies, you will have to spend more time later on in reading through them when you would otherwise be completing your coursework.

Once your course begins, you should be told the average amount of time expected from each student to be devoted to their studies each week. Often this is between 10 and 15 hours. naturally, some weeks you may need to spend less or more time on your studies, but it will be most helpful to prepare a study calendar for yourself. A study calendar allows you to plan the time that you are going to devote to your course. Having the calendar in a prominent place in your home will help the rest of your family understand when you should not be disturbed.

For a course that requires an average of 10 hours each week study time, dividing those hours into study blocks on your calendar and colour coding them in association with the kind of activities you will be working on is a good idea. For example, you may decide to allocate 2 hours of each week day to your course, leaving your weekends free. You may have to spend 60% of the time reading, 20% on writing an essay, and the final 20% on watching DVD study materials. So your calendar will have the majority of your time marked in one colour, with 2 other colours used for the other activities.

You may decide that you would work best by having a full day of study, which could mean using your whole 10 hours up at once. For single people working full time, this is often the best way to approach a distance learning course, by using a Sunday or whatever day off in the week they have. If this is to be your approach, then you must remember to schedule short breaks away from your studies during the day, to make a hot drink or to spend a few minutes outside in the fresh air. This will help keep your mind receptive to your learning.

Finally, it is a good idea to tell your friends and family that you are going to be studying via distance learning for the next few weeks or months. This will help to prevent unexpected visits or constant offers to go out for meals or drinks that can tempt you away from your studies. Set a day or evening each week when you will not be studying so that you can socialise, but keep the rest of your diary clear.

Your studies will only last a relatively short time, and as you would normally be paying to take the course, you must give it your full attention in order to get the most benefit from it.

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