I think there is a lot of misinformation about online education. As I said before entry level education to the physiotherapy profession can not be taught at a distance and/or online. Post graduate education - some of this may be amenable to distance learning and some of it isn't. As Phyzio has pointed out if you are learning "craft knowledge" - that is things like manual techniques, physical examination, observation of human movement in a detailed way or techniques involving "hands on" distance learning is one of the worst methods of teaching and learning. You need to be there, watch others and try it out yourself in real time.

Where the course involves "bigger picture" studies this can be effectively taught by distance - for example evidence-based practice, research methods, or epidemiology, but it is really important that there is student-with-student interaction via such things as video-conference.

The "sandwich" course where some of the course is taught at a distance and with intensive sessions where you come into the university for a number of days can be be appropriate for some post graduate subjects and can combine the advantages of distance learning with the advantages of hands on direct contact interaction. This type of learning can be very appealing to the graduate who is working, as it can be minimally disruptive.

So before enrolling in a distance-based (or online) course consider:

  • what are the learning outcomes? If the learning outcomes involve developing such things as clinical skills with patient interaction don't even thing of doing a fully distance course
  • Whether the institute is really geared up for distance learning. A lot of really prestigious universities offer distance learning but aren't particularly good at it. Distance learning is often tacked on as an extension but the real learning happens on real-time courses.The academics have to be well versed, and comfortable in the delivery of distance learning and the technologies involved and it all has to be properly supported re: IT and other administrative courses
  • That there are a lot of sharks out there happy to take your money for online courses but the education is of a very poor standard. Don't get sucked into the advantages of distance learning without assessing the quality of the university and it's faculty. If the institute solely offers online learning Be suspicious. There are of course some very good distance learning institutions such as the Open University in the UK but it is very easy for people to make a fast buck out of courses where very little infrastructure is provided. All may be required is some crappy little office in building somewhere.
  • Find out if you will be interacting regularly with other students -this is always invaluable and an essential part of good learning. Being able to test out your ideas against a group of peers is as important as the interactions with your educators. and find out how you will be interacting. Audio conferences are very stilted - video conferencing is far superior as you can pick up on some of the non verbal communication. It is also much more like being there.
  • I know some procedures such as medical procedures are effectively viewed and taught at a distance but this is usually done with people learning at a very advanced level - eg registrars in he field learning from physicians or surgeons.