How do you decide which is best for you, in-person instruction or distance education? First consider how you learn best. If you aren't self-directed and able to sit down and do a distance course on your own, then it is not for you. If you like to have others around to bounce ideas off of and you like to have the instructor there with you, then, obviously, in-person classroom learning is the way to go. If you are sufficiently self-directed and like to be able to initially learn and then review the lectures and materials at your convenience, a distance course should work for you. A good distance education course includes audiovisual lectures, movies demonstrating equipment and techniques, and planned contact with the instructor. You should feel like to are taking an "in-person" class from your home or office.
Consider your economic circumstances. In-person courses can be a week long, and, unless one happens to be given in your town, they require travel expenses, meals, hotel, etc. If you are in private practice, you also give up your income for the week. If you live very far away from the course, and have an exchange rate problem, language barriers, etc., then a distance course would be recommended. Another point is that many distance education courses can be divided into segments, so you may only need to purchase and take the parts you need.
Please feel free to contact me with questions, etc. at rsherman@nwinet.com.
*This article is based on one I wrote for AAPB's web site.
Richard A. Sherman received his doctorate in psychobiology from New York University in 1973. He has accrued over thirty-five years of experience teaching and performing research and clinical work in behavioral medicine and related fields. Dr. (more...)
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
1 | 2
