Skip to main content
IOSH Magazine: Safety, Health and Wellbeing in the world of work - return to the homepage IOSH Magaazine logo
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit @ioshmagazine on Twitter
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on LinkedIn
The dangers of forestry
Grenfell five years on
Rehab and return to work

Main navigation

  • Home
    • Browse previous issues
    • Member accolades
    • Member tributes
  • Health
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Accident reduction
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Sickness absence
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Rehabilitation
      • Personal injury
      • Return to work
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Achieving Fellowship
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Professional skills
      • Qualifications
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Jobs
  • Covid-19
  • Knowledge Bank
    • Back to basics
    • Book club
    • Infographics
    • Podcast
    • Reports
    • Webinars
    • Videos
  • Products & Services
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Sickness absence
      • Accident reduction
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Leadership
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Qualifications
      • Professional skills
      • Achieving Fellowship
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Transport and logistics
  • Third sector
  • Retail
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Rail
  • Rehabilitation
    • Personal injury
    • Return to work
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturing and engineering
  • Construction
  • Sector: IOSH Branch
    • Sector: Northern Ireland
    • Sector: Midland
    • Sector: Merseyside
    • Sector: Manchester and North West Districts
    • Sector: Ireland East
    • Sector: Ireland
    • Sector: Edinburgh
    • Sector: Desmond-South Munster
    • Sector: Qatar
    • Sector: Oman
    • Singapore
    • Sector: South Coast
    • Sector: South Wales
    • Sector: Thames Valley
    • Sector: Tyne and Wear
    • Sector: UAE
    • Sector: West of Scotland
    • Sector: Yorkshire
  • Healthcare
  • Sector: Fire
  • Sector: Financial/general services
  • Sector: Energy
  • Education
  • Sector: Communications and media
  • Chemicals
  • Sector: Central government
  • Catering and leisure
  • Agriculture and forestry
  • Sector: Local government
  • Sector: IOSH Group
    • Sector: Financial Services
    • Sector: Sports Grounds and Events
    • Rural industries
    • Sector: railway
    • Public Services
    • Sector: Offshore
    • Sector: Hazardous Industries
    • Sector: Food and Drink
    • Sector: Fire Risk Management
    • Education
    • Construction
    • Sector: Aviation and Aerospace
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Categories
  • Topics
  • Skills
  • Personal performance
  • Qualifications
Education
Products and services

Exploring the merits of distance learning

Sponsored content
Open-access content Tuesday 20th March 2018

david-towlson-nebosh-head-of-qualifications-and-assessment-distance-learning

Distance Learning -- key characteristics

You've probably already done some form of distance learning (though you may not know it). It might have been a free course or a YouTube tutorial. It might not even have felt like learning because you were having so much fun and, against your expectations, it was practically useful. Just about every course out there these days, including NEBOSH health and safety courses, is available via distance learning. It enables people to study what they want, at a price they want, when they want.

Distance Learning (DL) has been around a long time. In generations gone by it took the form of 'correspondence courses', since it typically used the postal service (and probably horses, steam trains and ships!) to send paper-based study materials, assignments and questions. There was no requirement to attend an institution (unless you wanted to) -- useful for those with travel or distance issues. DL, then, simply means you are studying physically remotely from the institution providing the learning, rather than on their premises in a traditional class with a traditional teacher.

That said, DL (in concept at least) is nearly always a part of a course. Indeed, all courses exist on a continuum somewhere between total self-study at home or work and total traditional classroom study (the teacher nearly always expects you to go away and do some self-study or independent research in your own time). Though interaction with a teacher/tutor and fellow students is typically much less in DL than with traditional classroom learning, there is usually at least some interaction but the degree of interaction is often down to the student.

These days DL is most commonly called e-learning (EL), because that is how it is delivered. It can be very sophisticated, engaging and media rich. It can also be very basic -- little more than an eBook for download. In nearly all university courses for example, content (such as lecture notes, activities, web resources) are available for download or online study from some kind of learning management system (such as Moodle, Blackboard) or simple file hosting service (such as Sharepoint, Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive)

Walk this way - why choose DL/EL?

There are now many different tools for the creation of e-learning training packages, and lots of organisations that offer it, which has caused tremendous competition. This means that the student has more choice than ever before.

People choose DL/EL for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Convenience
    It's easy to access, there's no need to go to a college (saves time and travel) and you can typically access content from multiple devices wherever you are
  • Flexibility
    The study materials are accessible 24/7 so you can fit study around work and family life (though the reality is that you will still need to make time to study)
  • Price
    DL/EL is usually cheaper than its classroom equivalent but quality can be variable for the same price point, so ask around for recommendations

Go the distance - tips for succeeding on the DL route

Erase from your mind that DL/EL is the poor relative of class room training. Yes, it usually is much cheaper (and that may be the sole reason you selected it) but it doesn't mean it can't be good. Just like classroom training, there are good and bad examples out there.

It's important to choose the one that works for you. Look'n'feel and inclusion of interactive activities in the product are important considerations when picking a DL/EL provider as this is what will help you engage with the learning content. But don't get carried away and get sold good looking but substandard technical content.

Prepare yourself for a bit of sacrifice and self-discipline. With flexibility and self-study comes responsibility to organise yourself and commit to study. Setting adequate time aside (especially if the content is technical in nature) in a location that's conducive to study, is critically important to be able to get to grips with the subject. If you don't you may just have a collection of unconnected and confusing facts swimming around in your head.

Because study can be lonely, fully avail yourself of opportunities for interaction with other students and the teachers on the programme. Usually there are forums, instant messaging/email, virtual class rooms or even occasional physical meetings, such as for revision. Participating in these can greatly enhance your learning experience as the discussions will clarify concepts and correct errors or misconceptions.

The bottom line is that you may not really know whether DL/EL is for you unless you try it. Good course providers recognise this and many run free trials or consultations to make sure it's right for you. But make sure you do actually use it during that trial period, because that's what it's for.

Summary

DL/EL is a credible choice for studying NEBOSH qualifications. It is affordable, convenient and flexible to suit the lifestyles of many students. Don't discount it - it may well be the right option for you.

Visit nebosh.org.uk/students for more information

Topics:
Qualifications
Education
Products and services
This content is paid for and not an endorsement from IOSH or IOSH magazine.

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

DSE Assessor

Coventry
£36000.00 - £40000.00 per annum
Reference
5449758

HSEQ Manager - Relocation Package Available

Fort William
Competitive Salary + Package
Reference
5449757

Health & Safety Officer

England, London
£35000.00 - £45000.00 per annum
Reference
5449756
See all jobs »

Today's top reads

Sign up for regular e-alerts

Receive the latest news and features, free to your inbox

Sign up

Subscribe to IOSH magazine

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
IOSH Covers
​
FOLLOW US
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel +44 (0)20 7880 6200
​

IOSH

About IOSH
Become a member
IOSH Events
MyIOSH

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to IOSH magazine
Write for IOSH magazine

IOSH Magazine

Health
Safety
Management
Skills
IOSH Jobs

© 2022 IOSH • IOSH is not responsible for the content of external sites

ioshmagazine.com and IOSH Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ