Distant Education

Off-Campus, distant education is not new. It dates back several centuries. In the 1700's John Wesley utilized the home study method to educate laymen and ministers alike to spread the evangelistic fires of Methodism.

About 100 years ago, the universities in Europe, including the University of London offered the "nontraditional" degree program. Matthew Henry, the author of the Matthew Henry Commentaries, who was born in 1662 was privately educated at home. Abraham Lincoln who became one of America's presidents was self schooled.

During the 1950-60's, non-traditional, distance education began to emerge, more so in the theological schools. Various concepts in education were presented to the American people and the idea caught on. Now most major universities offer degrees through distant learning, remote learning, online studies and this style of education is growing.

Off-Campus, online, distant education programs consist of well planned and thought out programs of study. Fundamentally, good teaching practices are basically identical to good traditional teaching practices. Well-designed syllabus and presentation outlines, along with the regular college textbooks, online textbooks, online instruction and in some cases audio or video tapes are the mode of delivery.

The internet has now made it possible to become a part of a virtual classroom, on-line libraries, online assignments and contact with a mentor, instructor or professor. Benefits of distance educational courses to the learner include:

(1) Accessible education to students in rural areas.

(2) Students may complete their course of study without suffering the loss of salary due to relocation.

(3) Students are exposed to the expertise of qualified faculty members who are in most case practitioners.

(4) Students may study at their own pace allowing some to complete their work quicker while others may take longer.

(5) Students may enroll and begin their studies any time during the year.

(6) In most cases Distance Education is less expensive.