2009 CollegePlus! Essay Contest Winner

How Distance Learning Is Changing the Face of College Education in the 21st Century

by Kendall Burnette

winner “What do you mean, you’re homeschooling for college?” People think it is wonderful that I am only sixteen and almost finished with high school but cannot fathom why I would choose “distance learning” from home over a traditional college. Part of the problem is that many people do not fully understand distance learning or its advantages. So what is distance learning? In the simplest terms, it is an education program taken by a student outside of a college building. As more people realize how cost-effective, efficient, and fulfilling distance learning can be, it is progressively becoming a popular way to earn a degree. Distance learning offers students four major advantages over traditional college: time, money, personal benefits, and quality.

How to Earn Credit Outside the Classroom

Distance learning is undoubtedly the most efficient way to earn a degree. I do not want to spend half my life in college—my dream is to pursue work on the mission field. Distance learning encompasses many strategies that can accelerate earning a degree. One of these strategies is credit by examination, wherein credit is earned for a specific class by passing a test on that subject. An amazing amount of credit can be earned in a short time period through examinations such as CLEP and DANTES. For example, as soon as I completed certain high school subjects, I did an intensive review and took the CLEP tests in those areas.

Many of the courses covered in the first few years of college are simply review of material learned in high school. By using study guides to review core subjects, a student can earn college credit for them without ever setting foot in a classroom. Distance learning expert and author, Brad Voeller (2006), says, “Instead of sitting through sixteen weeks of lectures on material that you already know, credit-by-examination allows you to simply take the test and receive credit!” Credit by exam allows students to focus their studies on the subjects that interest them or are relevant to their chosen major. Clearly, distance learning is the most efficient method of earning a degree.

Cost, Flexibility, and Quality: The Benefits of Distance Learning

College costs are soaring. According to the College Board (2008), tuition and fees for public four-year colleges are up by an average of 6.4% this year, which is alarming in light of a recessed economy. Parents cringe at the cost of sending even one child to college; in a large family like mine, the financial factor becomes an even greater concern. Fortunately, a distance learning degree can cost significantly less than a traditional one. Because distance learning can be done from home, the food, housing, and transportation expenses associated with attending college are avoided. By taking advantage of credit by examination prior to enrollment, the amount of time actually spent paying tuition to a college can be decreased, saving thousands. According to CollegePlus!, their mentored, Christian program of acquiring a degree through distance learning costs only a fraction of the price of a traditional degree (2009).

Education From a Biblical Worldview

The next advantage of distance learning lies in the personal benefits it provides. Earning your degree without leaving home is one of the most positive aspects of distance learning. I am excited about the opportunity to continue to live with my family and remain active in my church while pursuing my degree. Some people worry about missing out on the “college experience.” However, the college experience is not necessary to become a successful person; in fact, it can be detrimental to a student’s spiritual health.

The curriculum at many universities is decidedly secular and is generally not taught from a Christian worldview. This environment is one that often lulls students into accepting worldly philosophies and does not encourage them in their walk with the Lord. By staying at home, a student has daily parental support and wisdom. This is one of the greatest assets a young person can have. Earning a degree at home gives students the advantage of having their parents’ advice and counsel as they are introduced to opposing beliefs and viewpoints. Distance learning provides students with a more solid foundation for impacting others for Christ.

High Quality with Minimal Expense

The final advantage of distance learning is that you can earn a high quality degree. Skeptics of distance degrees argue that students do not learn as well when they are not in an actual classroom. This is a myth. Enthusiastic, committed students can learn as well or better through distance learning as through a typical college. According to the United States Distance Learning Association, “Research studies have been quite consistent in finding that distance learning classrooms report similar effectiveness results as reported under traditional instruction methods” (2008). Students can learn at their own pace with distance learning, while a traditional college forces students to follow a schedule determined by others.

This may prove overwhelming when the student is trying to keep up with multiple classes. In the end, the student may be merely skimming the surface, rather than fully absorbing the material. As cited by Cohen (2002), “Some studies show that online students outperform their on-campus counterparts and have higher achievement gains.” A student who is willing to study hard and stay on a personal schedule can actually get a more thorough education from a distance learning program. People may hesitate to pursue a distance learning degree because they are afraid it will not be viewed as a legitimate degree by employers. However, as long as it is obtained through a valid path, such as a regionally accredited institution, a distance degree is equivalent to one earned at a traditional college.

Distance learning profits students in four ways: time, money, personal benefits, and quality. It is no wonder that so many are pursuing degrees in this way. Distance learning will help me make the most of my college years while obtaining a degree to prepare me for a future vocation. Most importantly, it will allow me to continue developing a strong spiritual foundation so I can impact the world for Christ.

essay Kendall Burnette, the 2009 CollegePlus! Essay Scholarship Winner, is already a CLEP pro, passing one of her first exams with a perfect score. She lives with her family in Georgia.