The advantages of Distance Learning

The advantages are obvious, students may maintain their live style, their normal daily pace and fulfill their family, social and work obligations as they continue their education. Studies of distance learners show that this student is more self disciplined, independent, motivated and investigative than the one who simply sits in the classroom and listens. On the other hand, the tuition is usually less.

Distance learning goes beyond the traditional: it is not limited just to the simple comprehension of a textbook or listening to a teacher, the background of a student is recognized by awarding credits for experience and previous studies, and in many cases the programs are tailor-made for students. With Traditional education all the students are, in effect, the same. Quite the opposite, distance education realizes that no two people are equal in knowledge, experience, and of course their goals and objectives are different.

We have often heard it said: “I’m sorry, we wanted to promote you on the job, but you don’t have a degree.” How many times have we read in the want ads: “University graduate wanted, preferably with post-graduate studies.” That “piece of paper”, the Diploma, becomes a necessity. The increased competition raises the demands at the time of job searching. The last two decades of the 20th Century changed the rules of the game under the influence of the globalization process. Today, the only one responsible for a professional career, training development and systematic education is you. This is the key for personal success. With the growing global trend, companies have entered a new level of competence, which has impacted in greater demands of organizations at the moment of choosing personnel because the only way to maintain the competitive edge is to have well-educated people. The weakness in the person-company link that has produced in recent years basically affects people with lesser capabilities. The scene is a cruel one, and it becomes worse when you don’t have that “piece of paper”.

Those who are economically active have changed their “attitudes” about work – taking more initiative with entrepreneur criteria and a global vision, more involved in trouble-shooting company problems and demonstrating a “can-do” attitude – and its necessity of “degrees”. Today it is not enough to be a professional, languages and postgraduate diplomas are sought (the need to know computer tools goes without saying).

To be at the front of this change distance learning minimizes the usual difficulties of traditional education, making it possible to obtain the formation, training and diplomas that will improve your personal possibilities for success.

 

System of education in the USA

Schools in the USA

Americans have shown a great concern for education since early colonial days. Nowadays, there are some 43 million pupils and students in public schools at the elementary and secondary levels, and another 6 million in private schools throughout the country.

The USA does not have a national system of education. The function of the Federal Department of Education is merely to gather information, to advise and help finance some educational programmes. All educational matters are left to individual states. 50 states are free to determine its own system for its own public school. At the end of the 20^th century 50 per cent of the funds for elementary and secondary education came from state sources, 43 % from local funds and only 7 % from the federal government.

There are two major types of school in the USA – public and private, or fee-paying. Four of five private schools are run by churches, synagogues and other religious groups.

Most schools start at nursery level at the age of three. Elementary education starts at the age of 6 and continues till 11-12 years old. Secondary education is provided from the age of 11-12. Intermediate school includes grades 6 through 9 for ages 11-12 up to 14-15. Schools of this stage are called intermediate schools or junior high schools.

A senior high school may include grades 9 through 12 or 10 through 12. Senior high schools in the United States can be classified in three major categories according to programme. A senior high school may be comprehensive, general, or vocational. A comprehensive school is open to all youths of a community area and offers a broad programme of academic, prevocational and vocational education.

A general school is also open, but it offers a more limited programme. Extensive programme of prevocational or vocational courses and advanced courses in academic studies are usually excluded.

A vocational school is for students of the community who are interested in its specialized area of training and a programme of general education.

A specialized school is for pupils with special capabilities who are qualified to concentrate in a particular area of study. It is for the academically, musically, artistically gifted.

The American secondary school provides the course programme of school subjects and a programme of extracurricular activities, including organised sports. Most schools publish their own student newspapers, have orchestras, bands, choir, theatre and drama groups, etc.

What makes American education at the secondary level so different from most other countries is that all such programmes, whether academic, technical, or practical, are generally taught under one roof.

High students who wish to attend a college or university go through one of the two standard tests –SAT and ACT. They are given by non-profit, non-governmental organisations.

 

Schools and universities in the USA

In the United States, children of four or under may go to nursery school. At the age of five most American children start kindergarten.

Schools for children from 6 to 13 are called elementary or grade schools (grades 1-6 or 1-4). Grade schools provide the first six years of free mandatory education in the USA.

The school is called 'grade' because each year of study is a grade: it goes first grade, second grade, third grade etc. Children have one teacher each year in grade school. The next stage is secondary school, which is divided into junior high school (grades 7-9 or middle school (grades 5-8) and senior high school (grades 10-12 or 9-12). In junior high school children still have one teacher for most subjects. The main subjects are English, basic math and history.

Children in high school are called 'students'. American students pass through several curricula on their way to a high school diploma. Most secondary schools provide instruction in English, mathematics, science, social studies and physical education, but the time allotted to those basic subjects differs from one district to another. Instruction in compulsory subjects is supplemented with a great variety of optional courses called 'electives'. Students are guided by 'school counselors' in choosing electives. No overall exam is taken in order to graduate. You just have to pass all final exams given each semester. After finishing the 12^th grade students receive a high school diploma. Some students drop out of school earlier and never graduate.

In their last year of high school students often apply to more than one college or university. Each college or university in the USA has its own requirements for admission. Most colleges and universities require applicants to take a standard entrance exam: the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). SAT must be taken in your senior year in high school. It is given on a certain day in December or January at a local college. The test takes a whole day. There are three parts: Math, English and Logic. Every student gets a book with questions. The book is divided into sections, with about 70 questions each. Each of the three subjects has a maximum of 800 points. The lowest score for getting into university is 550.

The University Admission Office takes into consideration:

1. The applicants' high school grades (transcripts);

2. Recommendations from high school teachers;

3. Applicants' scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and ACT;

4. The impression they make during interviews at the university.

The system of higher education in the USA consists of four categories of institutions: universities, four-year colleges, technical training institutions and two-year community colleges.

Depending on the source of financing higher education institutions may be either public (state-supported) or private. The amount of money you have to pay depends on whether you go to a private college or a state university. At a private college the tuition is higher. Overall they are much the same as state universities. The subjects are divided into compulsory and optional. The subject the student specializes is called a 'major'. Optional subjects are called 'electives'. Every student is assigned an 'academic advisor' or a 'faculty advisor' who will help the student decide on a plan of study based on his/her goals and the requirements for a degree.

Four years of undergraduate study at a university's 'undergraduate schools' or colleges lead to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. 'Graduate schools', which are part of a university or are separate institutions, offer advanced programmes which lead to a master's (M.A. or M.S.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Education (Ed.D.).

Junior colleges, technical colleges and community colleges are two-year institutions, usually public, offering technical training and a basic academic programme.

Some junior and community colleges award only an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree without specifying a major. Other junior, technical and community colleges award A.A. degrees to liberal arts students and A.S. (Associate in Science) or A.A.S. (Associate in Applied Arts) degrees to students who major in science or practical technology. After receiving an A.A., A.S. or A.A.S. degree, many students transfer to four-year colleges or universities to complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree.