Distance education has been around for a long time. The first account of distance education came in 1833 when European newspapers offered composition, language and civil service examinations through mail correspondence (Distance Learning Timeline Continuum, n.d.). Following that, William Rainey Harper developed correspondence courses at the Chautauqua College in the 1880s and, using what he had learned, instituted correspondence programs at the University of Chicago after he became its founding president in 1892 (Maeroff, 2004). As technology advanced, so did the method of delivering instruction. With the advent of radio and television, distance learning courses could be offered through broadcasting. Now, over 180 years later, the Internet has taken distance education to a new level.
With all of this history, how do we define distance education? Simonson’s definition of distance education (as cited in Simonson, Smaldino, & Zvacek, 2015) is ‘institutional based, formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive communications systems are used to connect learners, resources, and instructors’ (p. 31). My definition is not so sophisticated. Prior to this class, my definition would be a means for students in different locations to collaborate and gain knowledge in an online environment while working at their own pace.
While I was in the military, I participated in their correspondence course program. They offered courses related to one’s military specialty (job), leadership and safety. Even though these courses were of the professional education variety, it was still a positive experience for me. I was able to learn and complete these courses at my own pace. According to the 2009 Encyclopedia Britannica Book of the Year (as cited by Simonson et al, 2015), four characteristics for distance learning are: institutionally based, separation of teacher and student, interactive communications, and sharing of data, voice and video. My current distance education experience is more in line with these characteristics and Simonson’s definition. The advances in technology have made it possible to link students from around the world with an instructor and resources to collaborate and interact in an online environment. Along with that, I have worked with Web 2.0 tools to view and share information. These tools can really enhance the learning experience.
The resources this week have given me a deeper understanding of distance education. My revised definition of distance education would be an institutionally based educational program where the student and instructor are in separate locations and where an online learning management system and Web 2.0 tools are used to link the student, instructor and resources.
History has shown that advances in technology have contributed to key changes in distance education (Simonson et al., 2015). Distance education has taken different forms over the years, but the concept remains the same. It allows individuals the flexibility of learning in their own time and space (Simonson et al., 2000 as cited in Tracey & Richey, 2005). As more working adults/students find the value in distance education programs, educational institutions will have to meet those needs. The challenge will come in terms of the instructional designer’s ability to design quality instruction and to deliver content using the appropriate tools. New technologies have made it easier for students to access content any time and collaborate with other students from around the world. Distance education programs offer an environment conducive to deeper learning through the interactions with the instructor, content and other students. With many schools now offering distance education programs, it appears its future is promising. Distance education will continue to grow and continue to make improvements as it has done in the past.
References
Distance
Learning Timeline Continuum. (n.d.)
Maeroff, G.
I. (2004). A classroom of one: How online learning is changing our schools and
colleges. Macmillan.
Simonson,
M., Smaldino, S., & Zvacek, S. (2015). Teaching and learning at a distance:
Foundations of distance education.
Tracey, M.,
& Richey, R. (2005). The evolution of distance education. Distance
Learning, 2(6), 17–21.
