Allen Bostrom – Universal Accounting

Convenience is a wonderful thing.  It improves our life style, and enables us to do more with less.  However, it carries a price when it comes to learning.

Since 1979, Universal Accounting Center has offered traditional instructor-led courses in our campuses across the nation.  Recent trends however have threatened the future of the classroom.  Each year, the percentage of those purchasing the traditional course over the home-study course has declined.

In theory, the idea of watching the course in the comfort of the student’s living room, dressed in pajamas, when time permits and without the extra time necessary for traveling to and from the classroom is quite appealing.  It’s hard to argue the merits of the convenience.  Many of our most successful students are graduates of our home study course.

Nonetheless, most people struggle with the distractions that exist at home.  This is true of all distance-learning products.  When participating in a classroom, distractions are restricted, and the ability to concentrate on a subject comes easier  A teacher can personalize and adapt the training to those in attendance by responding to questions, and reacting to body language.

However, when the student chooses home-study programs they are vulnerable to distractions, whether self-imposed, or the act of others.  This often results in a longer completion rate.  One of our closest friends finally finished her bachelor’s degree after eleven years of self-paced education from a local university.

When choosing whether to take self-paced or traditional training, the student should ask a few searching questions of themselves, and of the program.  For instance, the student must consider whether their circumstances allow them to control their time.  If they live in a busy, loud, or chaotic situation, studying at home may be impossible.  Secondly, the student must consider some self-assessment of their ability to stay disciplined.  When it comes to going to the movie, spending some time at the beach, doing the laundry, or studying for many, the latter idea is put off.  Finally, the last consideration is the availability of support is an instructor available to ask individual questions of.

In summary, distance learning programs can be a wonderful thing, but they’re not for everyone.

Allen Bostrom
Universal Accounting Center