Is satellite networking the next step for distance learning?

While most people tend to envisage distance learning as simply being made up of internet-based classes, new research suggests that more and more employers are now implementing satellite networks to help train their employees.

In particular, statistics show that the Government Education and Training Network (GETN) is being used by agencies to continue the education of their workforces. Courses covered by the GETN include acquisition management, hazardous waste management, aircraft maintenance, air traffic control, medical training, contract and environmental law, leadership development and many others.

Training network

Evidence also shows that 17 agencies primarily use GETN to train their own employees in specific areas, using their own courses.

According to Philip Westfall, president of the Federal Government Distance Learning Association, who contributed to the establishment of interactive television network, GETN now reaches 2300 sites in the US and around the world.

What's more, while educating via satellite is nothing new, the fact that 17 agencies are co-operating through the network and sharing equipment and facilities to make education more cost effective is of particular significance.

"The most significant advantage is the fact that we're saving a lot of money because we're acting as a single group to buy bandwidth," Westfall said. And once the technology is in place, satellite also saves over paying travel costs for employees to attend classes in person.

Same difference

Satellite courses, which are typically conducted live, also provide good interactivity between the instructor and students, according to Westfall. "For example," he explains, "one accrediting agency in the medical community will not allow credit for self-directed courses taken in an office environment. They have to be classroom- or satellite-taught, where there's more control - and satellite interactive television best emulates the classroom setting."

Studies also show that learning is about the same whether students are enrolled in residence or distance learning, and Westfall believes that as traditional classes can easily be converted into satellite courses, the interactivity of this style of teaching could be the future.

"It doesn't matter if you have 300 students in one auditorium or a few students in 100 places, except that students might feel more comfortable speaking up if they're in a smaller group," Westfall said.

"Interactive television is suitable both for training - teaching how to do something a certain way or to meet particular standards; and for more academic education - preparation to anticipate and deal with problems, and learning the laws behind subjects," he added.

Matthew Buttell

Matt Buttell graduated from Bath Spa University in 2006. Since then he has written for several publications, before moving to the web. He now writes solely for the internet, continuing to cover key business issues while managing his own personal blog.

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