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Article #9: Distance Learning - Offering Freedoms People Never Thought Possible

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Jennifer Priory has wanted to be a Everything fits in and I'm not loosing
champion swimmer all her life. For the out anywhere, in fact I am able to fill
last two years of training she has got my requirement for education at a faster
out of her bed at four o'clock in the pace than my friends which will enable my
morning, trained for three hours, and entry into further education sooner which
continued on to school for her daily I am also planning on doing by distance
lessons. This way of life has caused a learning."
considerable amount of stress on her This effective study pattern is not just
parents and family, and taken her away for those that need a different 'time'
from her social life which most consider schedule. Distance learning is for the
important in the development of their masses too. The benefits of creating
children. As Jennifer had homework to your own schedule simply give people the
complete when she arrived home from ability to get on with their lives and
school, her studying continued after fulfil their education ambitions. People
school, and as she was getting up so with careers that are established have
early in the morning, she was ready for the ability to further themselves without
bed and asleep by eight o'clock in the disruption to their lives and their
evening. She didn't see her siblings or employer's contracts. Most employers
father throughout the week, and felt more will support their employees with
lonely as time went on. Her parents knew training bursaries for these courses
something had to change. because it offers them the benefit of
Jennifer's mother did some investigating, utilising their employee's new knowledge
and came up with a schedule for Jennifer during working hours. Emma Jones, the
that offered her the time for training, Director of Hugo Alan, a headhunting
schooling, and a social life. She would business in the city of London says:
be able to spend time with her father in "Offering employees adequate training
the evenings, and even participate in programs is beneficial to all
some after school activities which would involved..."
give her the added bonus of keeping up Caroline Needham offers a different point
friendships with people her own age. Her of view. She writes:
solution was 'distance learning'. Some 'The questions were always the same. Do
may know this as 'open learning'. you have wheelchair access? When I get
'Distance and Open learning' are forms of into the building, are there stairs to
education which have proven to be as get to the classroom on another floor?
effective as the education a student Do you have elevators? Do you have
receives at an 'attendance' school', and parking close to the building?
because the student is able to take their There are a lot of reasons to dread
studies at their own time, they are having to find out about courses to take
usually able to get ahead easily without if you are disabled, and it is not only
having to wait for others to catch up difficult for those with motor problems.
with them. The student is also able to This can affect the visually impaired,
fit other activities into their life with the hard of hearing and alike no matter
the time they save. Jennifer started what age they may be.
this new schedule a few months ago, and Distance learning has taken the strain
has found this time effective schedule to out of this experience as the learning
fit in with her life instead of her doesn't accompany any stress. It is a
trying to fit in with someone else's way of gaining a quality education
schedule. through home study with the support of a
Jennifer's daily schedule goes like this. tutor, and there is no requirement of
She wakes up at seven o'clock along with boxing off certain times in your week for
her siblings. They all have breakfast lectures, and no requirement of the
and they leave for school whilst Jennifer stress of travel. Computers have changed
goes to the pool for training. She the structure of most industries, and the
trains and is home by lunch time. She education industry is no exception.
studies for four to five hours and this Being able to contact tutors with
leaves the evenings to her to decide what questions and send in class work through
to do with. Jennifer is much more the wonder of the computer has cleared
comfortable with this way of studying and the way for people to have their
says: questions answered quickly, and their
"Before my mother found out about the work graded within hours and days instead
'distance learning' programs that were of weeks which allow the student to
open to me, my life was a nightmare! continue on with their studies at a pace
Getting up at four o'clock in the morning they are comfortable with. People need
broke into every aspect of my life, and more flexibility and quality for their
put a strain on my parents. Now my money and if the education industry
schedule is very much like my brothers doesn't step up to the mark, they will
and we act more as a family unit. I have simply fall behind. People have a choice
time in the morning for training, and if of who they study with these days, and
I feel I need to train more at certain they will go with the establishments that
times, the time is there. It is the same offer them the flexibility they need, and
with studying. If I feel I need more the quality they deserve. I study with
time to study, the time is there, and I Oxford College ODL because they support
have personal tutors for all of my me and let me do things my way. I am an
courses who I can contact for any reason adult and don't need to be told how to
if I find any aspect confusing, or don't run my life. Distance learning outlines
understand everything I need to. But the rules of what has to be adhered to,
most importantly, I am able to see and lets the student make all the other
friends, and I don't miss out on studying decisions which never leaves the student
time or have to catch up after I have with the stress of having to change their
been away at a competition. I am even lives and make usually insurmountable
completing my AS and A2 levels in one efforts to adhere to rules that are
year instead of two!" simply there to make life easier not for
Distance learning is quickly becoming the the student, but the establishment they
favourite way to study by students are learning with. Distance learning is
wanting to get ahead and parents wanting a modern, responsible, and quality way of
to see their children excel in their learning, and it is definitely the way
studies and other activities. Melissa forward for everybody and not just those
Roe had the same problem with 'time'. with special needs.'
Her 'attendance' school didn't afford her Distance and open learning are slowly
the time to pursue theatre classes and go becoming the biggest recognised option
to auditions as was her dream, but her for study by the public because of it's
parents didn't want her to give up her lack of restraints. This option is
studies well aware of the fierce recognised by the British government to
competition in the area she wanted to be worth offering funding and advancement
pursue. Distance and open learning so much so that they believe it will
offered her the freedom to immerse offer more than fifty percent of students
herself in something she loved without that wouldn't have studied further than
skimping on the study hours. She says: their GCSE level of study a place in the
"By rearranging my schedule, I was no next five years. The government sees
longer having arguments with my parents this as progress in the field of
about taking me out of school for education, and offers the scheme a great
auditions and extra daily classes. amount of leeway.






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