RN Education
Distance Education
What is distance education?
Distance strategies connect people who have learning needs with the resources required to
meet those needs. Canadian universities are responding to the needs of nurses for programs
and courses using distance strategies. In some distance programs, individual students may
learn from home. In others, students may be required to travel to a common site located
far from the hosting university. Canadian universities are striving to balance flexible
delivery methods with a challenging academic program.
Is distance education available for all levels of education programs?
Many baccalaureate programs and three master's programs offer complete programs by
distance. At least three doctoral programs use some distance strategies. A number of
universities use distance methods in at least some courses in post-basic RN baccalaureate
programs.
Why choose distance education?
Nurses choose to obtain education by distance for a variety of reasons. Nurses who live in rural settings may prefer to avoid the inconvenience and cost of frequent travel to a university. Those who juggle the demands of family, work and school may prefer the flexibility. Sometimes nurses have the need to study in a specific language. Some nurses choose to study by distance when they move away from the university where they have begun their studies and cannot find the same type of program at a local university.
What methods are used to achieve distance education?
The strategies used in distance education courses must suit the type of course, learning objectives and available resources. Common strategies used in graduate programs are correspondence, computer-based, teleconference, videoconference and faculty visits.
Correspondence involves sending materials such as books, audiotapes and videotapes through the mail. In computer-based programs students access printed, audio and video materials from storage sites on the internet, floppy disks, or compact disks. In a teleconference students talk with one another using telephone technology and in a videoconference they can also see each other through the use of a video screen. Some universities use faculty visits to individuals or to groups of students.
University libraries and databases can be accessed through the internet. Articles are faxed or sent to the student by mail.
How do students communicate with each other and with their instructors?
Communication between teachers and students may be enhanced through the use of group or individual electronic mail (e-mail or list servers) or chat groups. Personal contact such as faculty visits or student visits to a common site decrease students feelings of isolation and improve communication. Some universities have a newsletter or use telephone tutors to attain the same objectives.
Where can I get specific information about distance education programs?
Please make inquiries directly to the schools or the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN), e-mail: inquire@casn.ca . CASN maintains a database that includes information about distance programs.
Related links
June 1999
