Distance Learning
Customize college to your busy schedule with Erie Community College’s Distance Learning Program.
What is Distance Learning?
Distance learning is a formal approach to learning in which the majority of the instruction occurs with the instructor and students separated by geographic distance and/or time. Distance learning courses offer students the flexibility of completing some or all of their coursework and assignments without having to regularly attend classes on an ECC campus.
Distance learning students have the ability to take courses at a place and time that is convenient for them. The distance learning program at ECC serves more than 5,000 students each semester. Distance learning covers a wide range of General Education requirements.
Distance learning is offered utilizing many forms of technology including:
- Internet-based courses
- Video-based courses
- Fiber-optic interactive audio-video based courses
Internet-Based Courses
In an Internet-based course, students access some or all of the course material and participate in course activities over the Internet. Students can work from any Internet connected computer to complete assignments and interact with other students and the instructor. To participate in an online course, students should have regular access to a computer with an Internet connection. Students should also have some familiarity with Internet use, e-mail use and file management (saving files, downloading files, attaching files to e-mail). The college uses two platforms for Internet-based courses: the college server and the SUNY Learning Network.
There are three forms of Internet-based courses:
- Online courses (the majority of the course is completed over the Internet, with little or no on-campus time)
- Hybrid courses (a combination of online and seated time)
- Web-assisted courses (a seated course where the instructor uses online materials and activities to supplement the classroom work)
Video-Based Courses
In a video-based course, students use a set of videos as a substitute for the traditional class lecture. Some of the videos are available at the campus library; others need to be purchased from the bookstore. Textbook and other course materials are typically required.
Fiber-Optic Based Courses
A fiber-optic based course is a “live” distance learning course. Erie Community College is a partner in Project Connect, a state-of-the-art interactive audio/video network, utilizing fiber optic technology to link several sites together. A host site, with an instructor present, is connected to three other sites which use two-way audio/video links to the host (instructor). Some distance learning courses use this technology as the “seated” portion of a Hybrid course, so students may not have to travel to an ECC campus.
Degrees at a Distance
Erie Community College has been approved by the New York State Education Department to offer the following degrees at a distance:
- Business Administration (A.A.S. and A.S.)
- Computer Applications for the Office (Certificate)
- General Studies (A.S.)
- Homeland Security (Certificate)
- Office Management (A.A.S.)
- Social Science (A.A.)
- Telecommunications Technology (A.A.S.)
Could you be a Distance Learner?
Distance learners tend to be busy people who take advantage of flexible course schedules and delivery methods to fit college classes into their hectic lives. Many are employed full-time, many are parents and some are homebound due to special needs.
To find out if Distance Learning is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I self-motivated?
- Can I work without frequent supervision?
- Do I have the patience to understand if the course does not go smoothly?
- Do I have enough time to take a distance learning course (as some classes require online time)?
- Am I computer literate or do I have the proper equipment (i.e. computer and modem)
- Am I a good time-manager?
If you answered “Yes” to all of these, then you are ready for a Distance Learning course. If you answered “No” to some, then please speak to an Erie Community College academic adviser.