Distance Learning Pros and Cons

I was supposed go to Reading u.k. (200 miles from me) to deliver a Gimp course for Dental Professionals, but ill health got in the way so I had to deliver the course from home with the delegates phoning me if they got stuck. Not the best way to deliver learning, I know, but it was the best workaround. This got me thinking; What are the pros and cons to distance learning?

The case for the pros you would think is going to be short. But, sometimes, when there's no tutor present, you can learn things better when you find out things for yourself. This might not suit all learners, some like a guiding hand, but for the inquisitive and the self-reliant it can be a blessing. There's also a case for no time-pressure. Ever been on a course where you're always playing catch-up as the tutor dashes through the course to finish on time? Distance learning doesn't rush you, you can learn at your own pace.

O.k. so I've established some good points for distance learning, but surely you can't beat the presence of a tutor. We all went to school, so it obviously works. What happens if you get stuck and there's no-one there to help. D'you soldier on or skip a bit that could be quite important. Also you have to be well motivated to work on your own. There's a higher drop-out rate when there's no-one to turn to for help.

To sum-up, it's a case of horses for courses, if you're well motivated can work with your own initiatave then there's a case for distance learning, on the other hand, if you're new to the subject and like being told things verbatum then tutor-led learning is for you.