Distance Education Overview

 

Overview Assessment

 

Teaching and learning are no longer confined to the classroom or the school day. There are many technologies that can offer a great deal of flexibility in when, where, and how education is distributed. The P.E.D. module series is designed for K-20 educators who are interested in distance education (D.E.) professional development discussion and reflection. It provides an overview of the advantages and characteristics of the various environmental methodologies now being used to reach remote learners.

 

What is Distance Education?

 

Most commonly referred to as D.E., a few synonyms are, Distance Learning, Distance Education, and Distributed Learning, or Remote Education. For the purposes of this discussion, Distance Learning will be defined by the following criteria:

 

1. The teacher and students are separated by distance (this distance could mean different classrooms in the same school or different locations thousands of miles apart).

2. The instruction is delivered via print, voice, video, or computer technologies. The communication is interactive in that the student receives support and feedback from the teacher. The feedback may be immediate or delayed.

3. Distance Learning can be roughly divided into synchronous or asynchronous delivery types: 

 

Synchronous - the teacher and the student interact with each other in real time. For example, with two-way videoconferences, students interact with live video of an instructor. Less complex technologies, such as telephone conversations, are also synchronous.

 

Asynchronous- delivery does not take place simultaneously. In this case, the teacher may deliver the instruction via video, computer, or other means, and the students respond at a later time. For example, instruction may be delivered via the Web or videotapes, and the feedback could be sent via e-mail messages.

 

The History of Distance Education

 

Throughout the history of human communication, advances in technology have powered paradigmatic shifts in education. Communication between teacher and student is a vital element of successful distance education. Media has played an essential role in the establishment of teacher and student communication. For communication to take place, at a bare minimum, there must be a sender, a receiver, and a message. If this message is intended as an instruction, then besides student, teacher, and content, we must consider the environment in which this educational communication occurs. Today, most educators view the success of distance education to be based on the content of the dialog between teacher and student and the effectiveness of the communication system in an educational process.

 

A historic overview is presented in this brief video entitled, Distance Education: Yesterday and Today