Suicidal moose, bad roads, and sunset at 4:30 pm. Living in an isolated northern area, I occasionally find myself envying (gasp!) those of more southerly regions who are able, year round, to access continuing education. Yes, yes, more schooling, I know. But have you seen what’s being offered lately? Feeling slighted, I started looking into alternatives to the old style of dragging oneself to class with coffee cup in hand and toothpicks under the eyelids, not to mention dodging the aforesaid moose. I was very pleasantly surprised with what I found.

First of all, school is not just in classrooms anymore. Even the ancient art of correspondence has been modernized to include TV broadcasts, videotapes, and telephone support. On-line virtual classrooms are being developed and offered for almost every interest, from upgrading your skills in health care to university calculus to writers’ workshops. We are no longer limited to choosing a facility close to home; today, there are universities and colleges all around the world who offer a huge selection of choices over the Internet. Best of all, we don’t have to move.

Why would anyone choose to study alone, huddled in their own little office, over joining a group of like-minded folk in a classroom? Convenience, mainly. People who keep odd schedules, have children at home, or a home-based business all benefit from a flexible at-home program. Isolated people (yours truly), even the ill or confined may find these options very appealing. And while correspondence courses keep you plugging away on your own, on-line classes offer discussion groups and chat rooms, allowing students to interact with each other as well as having access to their instructor, both privately (e-mail) and publicly. Distance learning offers flexible scheduling, too, making it easier to work around vacation time or unexpected events. The instructors are usually more than willing to assist and help you finish your course successfully.

There are a few things to take into account when looking into distance classes. If you are interested in university or skills upgrading, be sure you have the required prerequisite courses or the permission of the instructor. What sort of special equipment will you need? Obviously, an on-line class will require computer access but remember that libraries and colleges all offer free computer access to the public and students.

Look into any special software that may be necessary for assignments and remember to buy your on-line hours ahead of time… it’s much cheaper than getting stuck with the bill after the fact. Also, if your course has a final exam you will be required to write it in the presence of a pre-approved supervisor, which may mean travelling to a local school or college.

So, are you interested yet? Keep in mind that these courses will take up some of your time, time that can be difficult to manage when studying from home.

Phone ringing? Click on the answering machine. Kids knocking on your door? Hang a brightly coloured sign on the doorknob to say mommy or daddy is busy right now (just don’t forget to take it down now and again!) Dishes not done? Dog needing walking? It’s really easy to come up with a multitude of excuses as to why you need to postpone your class work right now.

If you expect to finish a course within the timeframe, you are going to have to learn to schedule your day. Be flexible, but make sure everyone in the household knows that just because you are home, that does not mean you are available… unless the house is on fire of course. Personally, I found the on-line courses gave me needed weekly deadlines and discussion groups whereas the correspondence option is very (very!!) easy to ignore. Course lengths will vary so check into assignment due dates and exam scheduling.

The last thing to consider is the lack of face-to-face contact. I’ve heard stories of troubles in tracking down professors, missing human interaction, difficulties in using the web-based programs.

If you can, contact your instructor by phone before the class begins. Be an active participant in chat rooms and discussion groups. Practice using your word processor if you aren’t familiar with it. Colleges using SFU's 'WebCT' program offer a great introductory on-line course for free during the first two weeks of classes. It introduces students to the WebCT program, explaining techniques for everything from submitting assignments to participating in chat rooms to posting attachments.

Prices will vary with university credit courses being the most expensive (~$200). Check web sites or call for current costs. If you are looking into classes from the US or other countries, expect to pay a lot more (The Writer’s Workshop in New York is about $400 US per course).

The opportunities for learning, no matter what your location, are out there. Go seek, and avoid those moose.

A few great places to start:
The Open Learning Agency (www.ola.bc.ca)
University of Northern British Columbia (www.unbc.ca)
NorthWest Community College (www.nwcc.bc.ca)
Athabasca University, Canada’s Open University (www.athabascau.ca)
The Knowledge Network (www.knowtv.com)
Simon Fraser University (www.sfu.ca)
Calendars may also be ordered on-line or by phone.

(Anastasia Ledwon is an on-line student living 'off the grid' on a sunny slope near Houston.)