Currently, over 3.5 million college students are taking online courses or earning online college degrees. At the secondary school level, over 700,000 high school students are taking one or more courses online, and nearly forty states have established statewide or state-led virtual schools. In 2007, Michigan became the first state to require high school students to take at least one online course for graduation.

During the week of 08-12 November, schools, colleges, and other organizations will showcase their programs for current and prospective students. Additionally, the USDLA will conduct a series of free webinars during NDLW, showcasing various types of distance- learning providers.

Using the latest technology to help students learn, distance learning stimulates in ways a simple lecture can't. It is interactive, engaging, and effective. For example, users can pull up a streaming video, sit in a virtual classroom, collaborate on a group project, listen to a podcast, take part in a discussion board or chat group, e-mail fellow classmates, or instant message their professor.

Today, just about any degree can be earned online (high school, associate, undergraduate, and graduate) from dozens of schools and colleges across the United States.