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About 2.9 million students are enrolled in college-level, credit-granting distance education courses.
Use PBS Campus to find distance courses in your area.
SOURCE: National Center for Education Statictics |
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Five Children, a Part-Time Job - and Eyes on Graduate School
June Rogers' fifth pregnancy was a great joy that also posed a big
dilemma: How could she stay on track with her college education if she
had to begin her next semester seven months pregnant?
The answer: Distance learning telecourses including PBS courses Rogers viewed at home on TV broadcast by her local PBS member station, WHYY, in Philadelphia.
For Rogers, distance education created a new world of
flexibility, enabling her to stay at home to care for her family -
without sacrificing her college goals. Now her children, ages 3, 6, 8,
13, and 21, keep her bustling more than ever, so flexibility remains
crucial.
PBS courses that added excitement to the journey
Explore some of the PBS courses that June Rogers took as she earned her degree:
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"My children keep me very
busy, especially with scheduling and tutoring activities," she says.
"But I do not have to arrange for childcare or compromise quality time
with my children."
Not only did that flexibility allow Rogers to home school one
of her sons for several years, it currently lets her work as a
part-time instructor at Delaware County Community College, where she teaches medical transcription to an independent study group.
Investing in the Future
As Rogers earns college credits through distance learning, she feels as if she were making deposits in a bank account.
"Keeping steady deposits increases your assets," she says. "The best
thing about taking courses through distance learning is the sense of
accomplishment an individual feels after completing."
Rogers can be proud of her history of deposits. She has
already completed her Associate of Applied Science degree in business
management – along with a certificate in human resource management –
from Delaware County Community College.
Advice for New Distance Learners
"The most challenging aspect of distance learning is understanding
limits," Rogers says. "With so many wonderful and exciting courses
available, I find it very difficult to only take one or two courses at
a time."
Still, she urges new distance learners not to overload their schedules when they begin their studies.
"My advice to others considering distance learning courses is
to take one course at a time," she says. "Once you feel confident,
increase your course load, but no more than three classes per semester,
especially if you have other major commitments like family and
employment."
This Is Not "Easy College"
While Rogers says that
distance classes are "an opportunity to take real college courses as
easy as clicking on your TV or computer," she cautions that "these
classes require the same amount of time and maybe more in some
circumstances as traditional classes."
"This is not easy college," she says. "But your commitment to higher education will inspire you to persevere."
Do you have a success story where distance
learning has helped you reach your educational goals?
Share your story » |
Rogers
herself has persevered, maintaining her place on the Dean's List as
distance education enables her move toward her goals as quickly as
possible.
"Taking courses through distance learning gave me an
opportunity to increase my course load while getting excellent support
from my instructors," she says.
Future Looks Even Brighter
Rogers has transferred 70
credits to Penn State's World Campus online study program, 36 of which
came from distance learning classes. She's pursuing a bachelor's degree
in organizational leadership, but that won't be the end of her
education.
"I plan to continue my education through graduate school," Rogers says.
"I am interested in training and teaching adults. My goal is to prepare
adults for employment after they have acquired skills and education to
meet the demands of perspective employers."
Article written by Greg Rosenthal
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