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Is Distance Education Good? Pros & Cons From Our Experience

people sitting at a table on a balcony

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I’ve had the privilege of being a teacher both in person and remotely, otherwise known as distance education. I first started teaching in the late 90s, after getting my university degree in primary school teaching, and taught all over the world.

When my children were born, and we wanted to continue travelling, I thought it would be fun and a bonding experience to homeschool them, which I did for seven years, and I also put them in distance education too.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the term; distance education is when the teacher and the student are in separate places, and conduct the class by technology i.e. via video call. This is sometimes called online learning or remote teaching.

Our classroom by the river in Jervis Bay, NSW

But is distance education good? Why did I choose this path for my kids? In this guide, I will explain the pros and cons of distance education from my experience.

Note: This guide focuses mostly on homeschooling and distance education in Australia. If you are form the US, you may like this post on roadschooling in the US. There are more tips in there about the USA, as well from any one in the world looking to homeschool – it’s quite universal.

Homeschooling vs. Distance Education

When you travel long-term with kids who are still in education, you have two options (well at least in Australia).

You can either homeschool them, or you can put them in distance education. There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding which is right for you, and it all depends on your personal circumstances and preferences.

There is no right or wrong way.

What is homeschooling?

Homeschooling is when the responsibility for learning is placed upon the parents. Parents have to make sure they are checking off objectives and outcomes for their child’s stage of learning.

You have to plan, implement, and evaluate and then report that to the authorities. I don’t know much beyond that, but you can check out more information here.

What is distance education?

getting it done in a cafe in Melbourne
getting it done in a cafe in Melbourne

Distance education is when a teacher in another location, teaches your child via technological means i.e. video call.

There are many children in Australia who live in remote areas, miles from the nearest school. Distance Education, or School of the Air as…

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