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This effective study pattern is not just for those that need a different 'time' schedule. Distance learning is for masses too. The benefits of creating your own schedule simply give people ability to get on with their lives and fulfil their education ambitions. People with careers that are established have ability to further themselves without disruption to their lives and their employer's contracts. Most employers will support their employees with training bursaries for these courses because it offers them benefit of utilising their employee's new knowledge during working hours. Emma Jones, Director of Hugo Alan, a headhunting business in city of London says:
"Offering employees adequate training programs is beneficial to all involved…"
Caroline Needham offers a different point of view. She writes:
'The questions were always same. Do you have wheelchair access? When I get into building, are there stairs to get to classroom on another floor? Do you have elevators? Do you have parking close to building?
There are a lot of reasons to dread having to find out about courses to take if you are disabled, and it is not only difficult for those with motor problems. This can affect visually impaired, hard of hearing and alike no matter what age they may be.
Distance learning has taken strain out of this experience as learning doesn't accompany any stress. It is a way of gaining a quality education through home study with support of a tutor, and there is no requirement of boxing off certain times in your week for lectures, and no requirement of stress of travel. Computers have changed structure of most industries, and education industry is no exception. Being able to contact tutors with questions and send in class work through wonder of computer has cleared way for people to have their questions answered quickly, and their work graded within hours and days instead of weeks which allow student to continue on with their studies at a pace they are comfortable with. People need more flexibility and quality for their money and if education industry doesn't step up to mark, they will simply fall behind. People have a choice of who they study with these days, and they will go with establishments that offer them flexibility they need, and quality they deserve. I study with Oxford College ODL because they support me and let me do things my way. I am an adult and don't need to be told how to run my life. Distance learning outlines rules of what has to be adhered to, and lets student make all other decisions which never leaves student with stress of having to change their lives and make usually insurmountable efforts to adhere to rules that are simply there to make life easier not for student, but establishment they are learning with. Distance learning is a modern, responsible, and quality way of learning, and it is definitely way forward for everybody and not just those with special needs.'
Distance and open learning are slowly becoming biggest recognised option for study by public because of it’s lack of restraints. This option is recognised by British government to be worth offering funding and advancement so much so that they believe it will offer more than fifty percent of students that wouldn’t have studied further than their GCSE level of study a place in next five years. The government sees this as progress in field of education, and offers scheme a great amount of leeway.
Article written by Paul Beasley for the ‘Morning Break’ newspaper March 17th, 2005 edition. For more information on Oxford Distance Learning please see http://www.oxforddistancelearning.com/.