Nowadays, distance-learning programs have gained in popularity, but some people argue that courses can never be as good as those taken by attending a college or university in person. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The advent of the Internet has changed the ways people live their lives and complete work. A growing number of people are now considering distance education, which allow them to complete a degree at home. Even though distance learning is different from traditional college education, it can achieve the same learning outcomes as traditional courses. Distance education has numerous means of helping students grasp content of each lecture and widen knowledge. Students should read relevant materials and exercise to understand all key concepts and theories. Students watch prerecorded lessons or attend lectures on those online learning websites. When they have problems in digesting information, they can click the pause bottom and replay the video until they fully understand the content. This means that they can gain the same knowledge at home as they do at university. The improvements in online education also make it possible for students to communicate with their lecturers whenever necessary. Students can use interactive communication tools to ask questions in virtual classes or talk to lecturers via email. In this way, these learners can get lecturers＇guidance immediately, thereby completing all course more effectively. Despite lining in their own countries, they can communicate with scholars from top universities around the world. Sometimes, in distance learning programs, students may not able to draw upon idea of classmates or teachers. They complete a course at home and this means that their communication with lecturers is limited to practice and exams and that they have minimal interaction with fellow students. It is difficult for them to draw inspiration from everyday communication with others in terms of learning methods, work experience and the art of dealing with some problems. They may learn theories in distance learning but they may not be able to acquire other kinds of knowledge as they do in a traditional educational context. In conclusion, students who attend distance learning courses can acquire the same knowledge as they do in a bricks-and mortar lecture hall. However, it has drawbacks, such as lack of interaction, so it is not able to achieve the same learning outcomes as traditional college education.