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Q: Does, or has anyone done a distance learning degree whilst living in China? How was it?
I'm thinking of doing a 2 year distance learning master's whilst I'm in China, as my life here allows me to save some money enough to pay for the fees. I'm just wondering - has anyone done this or is doing it? Or maybe knows someone who is/has? What's the experience like regarding time difference?
10 years 51 weeks ago in Web & Technology - China
I'm working on prerequisites for a master's. In my experience the time difference does not make much difference if you stay ahead of the course. That ensures you won't be cramming to finish a paper/test/homework at 4 am.
I watch the lectures when I like and the exams give me a one week window to start and finish. In other words, they don't give a week to finish the exam, but let you start any time within a week with three hours to open the exam and finish it.
Of course you need certain internet help to view lectures and such. You know, Valentines, Property and Needles, or something that rhymes with funnel, but starts with a T as in Mister T. "Fire Grate" works. Ask around. Go figure why they block educational lectures. Sigh.
Anyway there's my 2 pence.
On my 2nd Master's degree via distance (online) learning.
No problems (except when they decide to put videos on Youtube - I've asked them not to, but we shall see).
The 'lectures' are mostly just the same notes we'd get in class anyway, and they sometimes put up the PPT's anyway.
Since I'm doing the current one in Education (TESOL) (so I can go onto the doctorate later), my assignments are directly linked to my work - and in this respect, it's better than doing face-to-face classes... I've got real experience to draw on, and for things like case-studies and application of theory, it's FAR superior than doing it in a classroom setting. (the current assignment I'm working on is a 4000 word case study... I get to use one of my current students - somethng you can't really do if you have to give up work and all， something you can't really do if you go full time).
Also, when the degree comes out, there's no indication that it was via distance learning.
Tutors are easily emailable, and if necessary, I can always skype them. So, there's no problem with communication.
Textbooks can be a PITA, however, I've found most of mine on taobao (as pdf's or hardcopy) - the pdfs can go for as little as 8RMb (though not always nice and clean copies), and the hardcopies can be a few hundred (or more).
Shining_brow:
(had internet problems, so finishing here).
Btw, I'm doing mine through Australian universities, so you may find some differences (certainly when it comes to paying for your course... which I'm guessing you need to sort out, given your comment on saving up for it!)
Any other queries???
Taking online classes are really flexible. The only thing you have to consider when taking these classes are the tests that you have to take. You have to make sure you have enough time in the morning or at night to take them. Other than that online classes are really flexible and it's usually a lot of discussions, some tests and other assignments!
