As with any classroom environment, the quality of the education provided by distance learning hinges heavily on the enthusiasm, effectiveness and expertise of the instructor. Instructors who use the distance format to their advantage will see positive results, while those who neglect to adapt their classroom style to the technology will see negative results. Many instructors see distance learning as deficient compared to traditional in-class experiences, and are not willing to put extra effort into improving their distance courses.
If you are taking an online course, you need that class to be up and running at the correct time. While equipment failure, network problems and other technical glitches may not be the fault of the university or its faculty, these issues can create serious problems in the academic plans of students. In distance learning, there is no substitute for functioning equipment. For instance, if a video does not work as intended in the classroom, a teacher can quickly adapt a lecture or other activity. If the video stream fails in a distance-learning classroom, everyone has to wait while the issue is sorted out.
Distance learning requires that its students be self-motivated, able to keep their own schedule and willing to take a certain amount of responsibility for their educational progress. Not all students are suited for this sort of learning, and some may experience difficulty keeping up with the class, finishing assignments and getting online at the correct time. Additionally, students may feel isolated if they are not provided with opportunities to work as an online community.
Distance learning is touted for its accessibility, but it still demands that both students and faculty have some sort of familiarity with computers and the Internet. Without these key skills, instructors will have a hard time with their assignments, students and presentations, while students may experience difficulty submitting work, navigating the site and creating documents. Many students without a formal education will need to seek external computer training before they can begin a distance-learning program.