2008年5月5日 星期一

Is distance learning efficient?

Name: Cecilia
ID Number: 49512063
Class: Foreign Language Department 2B
- (English Composition 2D)
Instructor: Shi Yi Ming

Is distance learning efficient?

Nowadays, the development of the computer science and technology has offered the advantages in many aspects. Not only can send the email, read the network news or the online shopping, but today there is an important way of accepting the education, that is the distance learning. The distance learning has already become the worldwide to pay close attention to the education. The definition of distance learning means the teacher and learner are separated in space and possible time. Consequently, the distance learning integrates with the computer technology will advance the different field of technology and education development. Therefore, some benefits are provided from the distance learning.

For the people who live in the remote area and far away from the city, it will be inconvenient for them to go to school. In that case, the character of role for the distance learning will be significant at this moment in time. The students need not attend classes but they can pass through the computer to receive the education. For this reason, the distance learning is an unrestrained study space, because students do not need to have a class in the regular place and regular time. If you have a computer and network, you can use the distance learning no matter where you are. Furthermore, the students can save the school fees and time to go to school. Moreover, it will be free for students to arrange their timetable and do not need the regular time of the classes.


The distance learning is beneficial to the professors too. It is not necessary for professors to give lessons in the classroom; they can use the computer to adopt the mode of distance learning. Thus, the student’s number will expand, increase and more than the fixed students in the classroom. Furthermore, the distance learning is different from the lessons given in the classes; professors do not need to repeat the lessons many times in the computer. They only need to prepare a copy of teaching materials and then upload to the professor’s websites, so the students can study on the teacher’s websites easily. Therefore, it is a win-win situation for students and professors. Besides that, the professors will acquire the new knowledge and experience in using the computer technology.

If we consider the positions of the institution and the society, the distance learning will be helpful. Today, there is a problem exists in the traditional education; that is the student’s number increase gradually; however, the school lacks of classroom and teaching equipment. To this reason, there are a lot of people begin to accept the distance learning, because it does not need any buildings. Moreover, the society of the distance learning has displayed that it does not need to waste of time in transport and it has reduced the pollutions. In this way, not only it can reduce the transportation to obstruct on the road, but also it can reduce the harmful gas from the automobile. In addition, the new market will be opened if there are a lot of people studying by using the computer. For example, people will buy the computer so that they will be able to study in the network. Consequently, this can improve the sales volume of the computer.

In my view, I oppose to the author about the distance learning will be very convenient and save the time. I think the traditional education is a good way. The original study is face to face interaction between the teachers and the students. However, the interaction of distance learning is just sitting in front of the computer and reply by typewriting. In this way, the teachers cannot answer immediately in the computer suppose you have many questions. Furthermore, the computer can progress neither the small group discussion or group activity nor oral communication skills. Moreover, you will easily divert from the lecture when you learn in the computer, because you might surf other websites or play games. This will cause you to read the text repeatedly more than one time. Sometimes the network will be very busy; it is because there are a lot of people use the network everyday. Therefore, when you open a webpage, you should wait for several minute sometimes. Besides that, if your computer breaks down, then you cannot continue to use the computer. In addition, the distance learning does not always offer all the necessary courses online. Finally, I do not think that distance learning is convenient and save the time.

The other reasons that I disagree with the author said that no matter where you were reside, you can use the distance learning. You must have a good computer if you want to proceed the distance learning. However, there is uncertain to have the computer in every place unless you have a laptop, but there also need the network lines provided. Places where the network connection is poor or unsmooth will definitely affect the distance learning by the lagging of transmission. How if you need to go to internet café for distance learning because of lacking a personal computer? Some amount of money will need to be paid also.

In conclusion, the author points out so many persuasive reasons but I do have some distinct points. I conceive that the distance learning actually has benefits to everyone. Furthermore, it still has some problems that should be paid attention. Even though the distance learning can undoubtedly improve the development of technology, I come up some different and opposite point of views about it.

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