Defining Distance Learning

What is distance learning? Well it depends on who you ask, what they do, and what their experience is with it. Over the past few decades that definition has changed for many different reasons. One of the main reasons this definition seems to be ever changing is mainly because technology is ever changing. The more advanced technology becomes the more intricate distance learning can be.

Before starting my distance education course in my masters program my definition of distance learning was purely based on my own experiences. My first experience with distance learning was as a student in undergrad and now it ranges to being an educator to students fifth through ninth grade. With these experiences in mind I would have defined distance education as a way to learn without having to travel to the classroom or university; being able to learn whenever and wherever.

Then I started this course and realized that distance education is so much more profound than that. According to Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, and Zvacek distance learning is “an institution-based, formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources, and instructors.” (Simonson, Simaldino, Albright, Zvacek, 2012, pg. 32). I was close, but it is way more complicated than just sitting at home to learn. There are four characteristics that distinguish distance learning from other kinds of learning. First of all it has to be through an institution and not a self-study or nonacademic learning. Second geographic separation exists in distance education whether it be time or location that separates the teachers and students. (Simonson, Simaldino, Albright, Zvacek, 2012). This was part of my definition but there is so much more than just being separated from the teacher. Simonson, Simaldino, Albright, and Zvacek go on to say that a well designed program covers the gaps caused by intellectual, cultural, and social differences between students (Simonson, Simaldino, Albright, Zvacek, 2012). Thirdly in order to be considered distance education must also include interactive telecommunications that connect the teachers and students. This can include any kind of communication from as advanced as the internet all the way down to simply using the postal system. And finally it must be comprised by an established learning group including teachers, students and instructional resources (Simonson, Simaldino, Albright, Zvacek, 2012). There are a lot of things to consider when defining distance learning as I learned from this week’s resources.

Keeping these definitions in mind I know that distance education is just going to continue to grow and expand, therefore the definition will evolve as well. We were asked to discuss our vision for the future of distance education and I find this to be the hardest question to answer. I really believe that the opportunities for distance education are just going to continue to expand and become more and more popular. I see it becoming used more and more in the physical schools and classrooms as well as those that are home-bound for whatever reason. Honestly that is the only thing I am able to speculate at this point, the growth and popularity of the offerings of online learning. As far as the technology that will expand this form of education, that leaves me dumbfounded. I am not very versed in technology but I know the things that are available now that were not available ten years ago and I can only imagine what the future holds as far as technology in distance learning.

I am really hoping that this course continues to open my eyes what distance education is and the possibly it holds for the future. I think that distance learning is always changing because education itself changes. We learn more about the learner everyday and therefore our teaching practices change then add in the fact that technology is ever changing. I fully believe that the definition of distance education will never be stagnant but will always be modified to fit the times it exists in. For now I would define distance learning as an education funded by an institution where students and teachers are separated by distance (whether time or location), where the curriculum and the learning community are accessed through a form of telecommunication.

 

Resources

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

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