What Is The Cost of Distance Learning?

Tuition rates and textbook costs for distance learning classes are usually the same as their on campus counterparts, although they are sometimes less and sometimes more. Your savings will not be related to what you pay the school. Instead, you save the costs of commuting, parking, child care, and lost work time. Depending on the teaching method used, you will, of course, need a computer with a modem, television, or a VCR. That means an additional cost if you don't already have these technologies or if you need to update your computer system. However, if you already own or have access to the technology you need, your only additional cost will be an occasional trip to a testing center or to a campus-based seminar or other on-campus meeting required by some programs.

When you think about the incredible amount of time and money it takes to develop these new teaching methods, you can appreciate the fact that the schools are not actually charging you more for your distance learning! Not only do colleges and universities pay the additional costs for the development of a new curriculum, but they also must hire computer programmers, Web site developers, videographers, site administrators, distribution clerks, online library resource personnel, specially trained counselors, and technical support staff. On top of that, they must maintain the computer systems, teleconferencing systems, and other equipment necessary to deliver distance learning to the students.

Teaching in front of a camera or via a computer is not the forte of every instructor. Universities must identify faculty members with outstanding presentation abilities and the willingness to consider flexible approaches toward student learning. Training of faculty in the use of technology is vitally important to the success of any distance learning program but, at the same time, it is very expensive. Instead of the traditional weekly office hours, distance learning instructors must give their students daily attention.

Glenn Jones, an innovator in cable television and distance education for more than 30 years, sees the solution to the cost of developing distance learning in "free market fusion " between nonprofit educational entities and private-sector companies. Massive consortia have already been formed between cable companies, four-year universities, community colleges, public broadcasting services, and other for-profit entities to make distance learning available to more students at a reasonable price.