One of the things missing from the distance-learning area is passion. Ms. Fungaroli's book, Traditional Degrees for Nontraditional Students, is part pep talk, part college guide. Its premise is that college can benefit just about any adult, even those who were steered away from higher education by high-school guidance counselors. The book also offers a range of practical tips to help adults choose a college, apply for admission, select a major, and adjust to campus life. The book is based on two years of research that included interviews with more than 100 non-traditional students, says Ms. Fungaroli.
Anecdotes appear throughout the book.
Ms. Fungaroli says the stories she heard from on-line students led her to exclude distance education from her book. She says she encountered students in distance-learning programs who were discouraged and isolated. Ms. Fungaroli fears that distance education might cause some talented thinkers to give up on higher education, or to stick to limited subject areas. Distance learning allows you to stay in your rut. Ms. Fungaroli also advises colleges not to jump on the virtual-courses bandwagon.