Types of distance education courses

Distance learning offers students a flexible learning option at home, which means you can set the pace of your study to fit your lifestyle. Distance education courses at Open Colleges (formerly Cengage Education) also have the added benefit of adaptability – so you can choose to study in a way that you're most comfortable with.

Types of distance education courses – Open Colleges' flexible learning options

• Online courses – these courses are completed online via specific online eLearning modules and are growing in popularity owing to their convenience. All our correspondence courses offer you the ability to study online via our OpenSpace online portal.
• Print correspondence courses – these have been the most typical method of studying by distance learning. Students receive course materials and assignments and then submit them for assessment by a trainer. Many of our correspondence courses can be completed online or with print materials. Your course materials may be supported by printed texts, CD-ROM materials or online eLearning facilities.
• Short courses – short courses are not formally assessed but offer you helpful study materials so you can develop new skills and acquire new knowledge in a field of choice.

Distance learning – should I choose print or online?

You can choose to receive your correspondence course materials by downloading them online via the Open Colleges OpenSpace online portal or as printed documents and texts conveniently delivered to your door. Both print and online students will have access to all of our online student support services, including forums, trainer contact, assessments and account information. Both print and online distance education students can submit their assignments via the web.

Other types of distance education technologies

The introduction of new technologies has lent itself to new ways of delivering distance learning. Open Colleges is gradually introducing these technologies:

• Broadcasting courses – these are your cooking shows, exercise videos, language learning programs and other types of "broadcasted" instructions designed to instruct students through a series of broadcast materials.
• Teleconference and videoconference – internet communication has allowed for distance education to be provided through virtual classrooms and webinars. Students and tutors can interact in real time, sharing computer screens, presentations and other resources online.
• Computer-assisted instruction – advanced computer training programs have been developed to help guide students through the instructional material of the course. The programs can also provide an assessment that students must progress through, completing relevant tasks.
• Internet-based courses – these courses can combine a number of elements to provide a complete distance education solution for off-site learning. Lectures and broadcast type instruction can be presented online, supported by webinars, live videoconferencing and computer-assisted instruction.

Choose the distance education course that's right for you.