Online or distance education remains a good option for students who - for various reasons - cannot obtain education within educational institutions. And while there are still some reservations about rudimentary online training courses, online technology has evolved considerably over the past decade. Now, somewhat surprisingly, it seems that the demand for distance education has actually begun to outpace that of traditional classrooms. Students are more successful in it, and even have a preference in it.

A 2012 study showed a glimmer of early recognition of the quality of online education. The survey revealed that 77% of academic leaders believe online education equals or exceeds learning in a traditional classroom. More than 69% of senior academic officials believe that online learning is an important part of long-term education strategies.

The 2018 study demonstrated that 85% of students who had previously enrolled in face-to-face online courses felt that their online experience was similar, or better, than the class course. 37% of them confirmed it was a great experience.

There are many examples of distance education superior to its traditional counterpart worldwide and across students of all ages. In the United Kingdom, Essex University certificates online came among the top 18 certificates issued by an educational institution throughout the United Kingdom, with 91 degrees in the National Student Survey, supervised by the Regulatory Commission for Higher Education in Britain.

The average first-time pass rate for distance-learners at law schools who passed California's first year law exam was just over twice that of the state's traditional law schools compared to 17.1%, based on publicly available data in the last 10 years of educational departments. Concord College of Law, the first fully-fledged law school in the United States of America, experienced a first-rate success rate of 45% in its most recent course.

The Gallup Poll released a study last April that compared the results of West Governors University graduates with those of other institutions. The survey showed that West Governors' education model, which takes place in all online courses, is better organized than traditional colleges. The employment rate for full-time university graduates exceeded the national average by about 20 percentage points. Graduates are more likely to graduate in their jobs. And yet, Gallup is still considered the university as the educational institution with the highest percentage of graduates who say they have a mentor that has encouraged their goals and dreams.

Students are increasingly turning to online courses, as they have become a better way to learn. Online courses give students greater control over their learning, by giving them the opportunity to work at the pace that suits them best. Attractive more multimedia content, contact rates with their teachers and classmates via the online chat, and less exposure to outside conditions can improve their understanding of metrics. Online courses also take a more frequent evaluation approach. The more students are evaluated, their teachers can track their progress and intervene as needed.

History of distance learning

In the 1940s, one of the educators, Sir Sir Isaac Pittman, was running correspondence courses to teach the shorthand writing system, a revolutionary style that appeared at that time and is still widely used today. In 1858, the University of London became the first university to offer degrees in distance learning. In 1892, the term "distance learning" was used for the first time in a brochure issued by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in the United States of America. It is possible to track the growth of distance learning from pre-revolutionary America to Britain in the 21st century, where approximately 400,000 students are currently participating in distance learning courses. This educational model has evolved from lectures sent through phonographs and radio broadcasts to certificates that are presented in the digital age.

77%

Academic leaders believe online education equals or exceeds learning in a traditional classroom.

A 2012 study showed a glimmer of early recognition for the quality of online education.

In Britain, the University of Essex certificates came online, among the top 18.