Distance Studying

[Maltego]

Open University / Distance Studying 

 

Background

 

I think firstly the best way to start this topic is by giving you all a little bit of background about myself (stay with me), as I think it's relevant to this topic. During all of my early years of learning and up to the age of around 18, this is around the time I eventually dropped out of college. I was never very good at studying the conventional way, I could never spend much time sitting in front of a whiteboard learning the traditional way. I would rather have stayed at home, trying to grind level the high levels on Diablo 2 (Diablo/ Baal runs, if anyone remembers doing that) and then moving onto World of Warcraft when it was released. This had a bad impact on my studies and made me think throughout my entire life, that I would never hold any high qualifications. I left schooling with the following qualifications:

 

Maths - C

English - C

Science - D
Business Studies - C

All the others below a D grade, so not really worth anything.

I spent the next couple of years doing boring jobs that I did not like, but later on, I joined the British Armed Forces and moved on to become a submariner. 

Open Unversity / Distance Studying

Moving onto the main reason I wanted to write this topic, I want to encourage anyone that left school with little or no education to check out whatever their version of distance learning is. In England, it's mainly Open University. I was informed by a friend, without previous qualifications, I could apply to study for a degree, so I checked out their website and found this to be true. I always had an interest in computing and tried to self learn a lot of subjects, but never stuck with it, as there is so much to learn. So I enrolled on a 360 credit BSc Computing (Web Development) full degree. All I can say is this has been life-changing. I study in my own time and it's up to me how much I want to study.  My first year I completed the following modules with these results: 
 

Introduction to Computing and Information Technology - Part 1: Distinction

Introduction to Computing and Information Technology - Part 2: Distinction

Technologies in Practice: Distinction
Discovering Mathematics: High Pass (80% just missed out on a Distinction)

I'm currently studying:
 

Web Technologies 

Object-oriented Java Programming 

Algorithms, Data Structures and Computability
Managing IT: the why, the what and the how

Learning a new subject was scary to start with, but the feeling of achievement you receive after completing a module, there is nothing like it. The cost of my entire degree will be around £18,000 - £20,000 which may seem a lot or not much depending on where you live. It is still cheaper than going to a traditional university here in England, as you can be charged £9,000 a year and you can use student finance and pay nothing until after you finish your course, and earn over a certain amount. lastly, I just want to finish off by saying, if you are like me and gave up on education, please look into distance studying, I can't recommend it any more. I will be moving on after this to hopefully complete a Masters Degree in computing, which is not bad for someone that left school with so little education. Never stop learning.

[wasab]

As long as your degree/diploma is accredited, I don't see the disadvantage over traditional  institution of learning. I learn better at my own pace, through videos and googling up stuffs on the internet as well. I have quite a few proffesor who presents lectures in incomprehensible jargons and leave me more confuse after the lecture than before the lecture. 

 

There is a downside however. Without a proper and permanent facilities for things like labs and equipments, I don't see how you can gain a thorough real hands on learning experiences. This is important because if you wish to go into medicine, chemistry, physics, research or any science fields for that matter, you need to have laboratory experiences. 

 

[Guest]

Sooo... online college? 

 

Real open college would be the American university in Paris France. 

[Teddy07]

The problem with distance learning in my eyes is that you are rather lost if you are stuck and need help.

[Maltego]

1 minute ago, wasab said:

As long as your degree/diploma is accredited, I don't see the disadvantage over traditional  institution of learning. I learn better at my own pace, through videos and googling up stuffs on the internet as well. I have quite a few proffesor who presents lectures in incomprehensible jargons and leave me more confuse after the lecture than before the lecture. 

 

There is a downside however. Without a proper and permanent facilities for things like labs and equipments, I don't see how you can gain a thorough real hands on learning experiences. This is important because if you wish to go into medicine, chemistry, physics, research or any science fields for that matter, you need to have laboratory experiences. 

 

The degree is of course accredited and is no different than a traditional degree. Yes, there is that downside when talking about the subjects you mentioned, but there are 100 more subjects that are perfect for distance studying and specifically, computing is ideal. 

[Maltego]

Just now, Teddy07 said:

The problem with distance learning in my eyes is that you are rather lost if you are stuck and need help.

You still have tutors, online tutorials, forums and your entire degree group. Technology is amazing. 

Just now, fpo said:

Sooo... online college? 

 

Real open college would be the American university in Paris France. 

1

I'm not sure what you mean by this. I'm talking about the Open University, which is in England.