Carolina Distance Learning® offers campus-quality science lab kits for online students that provide the same rigor, relevance, and results that traditional labs provide. Carolina has leveraged 90+ years of expertise to be able to offer hands-on labs in nine subject areas that can be completed at home safely. We also provide free course design, the flexibility to customize, and shipping schedules to match your timeline so you can plan and facilitate labs with ease and confidence (and without aggravation and stress).

Today, we have the opportunity to interview leaders at the company: 

Shannon McGurk, Vice President, Carolina Distance Learning: With master’s degrees in Biology and Education, Shannon joined Carolina Biological Supply Company in 2015 with more than 15 years of higher education experience. She has been active in the online learning community for over 20 years. Her experience includes curriculum development, instructional design, teaching, and compliance and accreditation.

Leah Bishop, Sales Manager, Carolina Distance Learning: Leah Bishop is a former high school science educator with a background in instructional design and education technology who leads the business development team for Carolina Distance Learning. Passionate about leveraging technology to enhance online learning experiences, she brings expertise in open educational resources and innovative teaching methods to her role, ensuring effective solutions for educators and learners alike.

Scroll down for our Q&A and click here to learn more: carolinadistancelearning.com

USDLA: Tell us about your company, its history, and the need you are filling in the distance learning industry.

Carolina Distance Learning: Our company offers a wide range of scientific products, such as preserved specimens, anatomical models, microscopes, and prepared microscope slides. In addition to these traditional offerings, we also provide curriculum programs to enhance the learning experience.

Recognizing the growing demand for distance learning solutions, we have expanded our services to cater to the needs of online students. Our Distance Learning programs offer campus-quality labs that ensure the same rigor, relevance, and results as traditional labs. Leveraging our 90+ years of expertise, we provide comprehensive courses in various scientific disciplines, including biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, environmental science, geology, physics, forensics, and allied health.

Our distance learning kits are designed to equip students for success, providing them with detailed digital lab manuals, instructional videos, editable assessments, and other support resources. We understand the importance of flexibility and customization in distance learning, which is why we offer free course design and the flexibility to customize kits according to the unique needs of each institution. Additionally, we prioritize convenience for educators by aligning shipping schedules with school timelines, ensuring labs can be planned and facilitated easily and confidently.

In summary, Carolina’s history is one of innovation and dedication to excellence in science education. In the distance learning industry, we are filling a crucial need by providing high-quality, comprehensive lab solutions that ensure online students receive the same level of education and practical experience as their peers in traditional classrooms.

USDLA: What are your organization’s biggest challenges? 

Carolina Distance Learning: One significant challenge for our organization is continuing to educate and persuade schools and institutions about the efficacy and importance of online science education, especially in the realm of laboratory sciences. Despite our efforts, some educators and institutions may still be reluctant or skeptical about the effectiveness of online lab courses compared to traditional in-person experiences. As pioneers in online science education, we constantly strive to maintain the same level of rigor, relevance, and quality in our distance learning programs as traditional laboratory experiences. This involves continuous improvement, innovation, and adaptation to emerging educational technologies and pedagogical best practices.

USDLA: What are the company’s big wins? 

Carolina Distance Learning: One of our major accomplishments is successfully partnering with over 500 institutions to promote and implement online lab science courses. By demonstrating the effectiveness and benefits of our programs, we have been able to expand our reach and impact, making online science education more accessible and enriching for students worldwide. Over our 90-year history, we have consistently demonstrated a commitment to innovation and adaptation. By constantly evolving our products and services to meet the changing needs and demands of educators and students, we have maintained our position as a leader in science education supply and distance learning solutions. Our dedication to enhancing the student learning experience has been a significant triumph. By developing comprehensive digital resources, customizable curriculum programs, and high-quality laboratory kits, we have empowered students to engage more deeply with scientific concepts and skills, fostering greater understanding and academic success.

USDLA: Who is your ideal client? 

Carolina Distance Learning: Our ideal client is the student-centered, innovative science educator who recognizes the importance of learning science by immersing themselves in the content and engaging all the senses. The educators we work with identify that we need to provide the learning flexibility students desire while not sacrificing their learning experiences or the content delivered.

USDLA: How has the business grown in recent years, and what are your plans for the future?

Carolina Distance Learning: COVID caused quite a stir for us. Online science offerings at the collegiate level were offered at institutions that would have been deemed impossible before the pandemic. Instructors were forced to think outside of the box for delivering science labs, and we had the already tested and proven solution.  While most institutions have returned to offering their traditional on-campus courses, many more recognize that there is a large population of students who demand online learning and will go to the institutions that are offering it.  In short, we are experiencing significant growth both in the number of schools we work with and the content we are creating.  COVID also opened the door for virtual high schools – and I am excited to announce we have a new product designed just for them with content and learning experiences centered around the K12 learning frameworks.

USDLA: How has USDLA been helpful in your efforts, and what else can we do to help you grow?

Carolina Distance Learning: The efforts USDLA has made to advance distance learning have significantly impacted our clients. The professional development opportunities help our instructors learn how to design and implement distance learning teaching practices with students. We appreciate USDLA’s recognition of the diverse learning population and the research methods used to identify the best way for those populations to learn.

Learn more: carolinadistancelearning.com

Follow Carolina on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/carolina-distance-learning