Understanding Distance Learning

Distance Learning is becoming a popular method of instruction, but very few people have a clear understanding of what it really is. This is a process wherein information is created and is provided access to students who is separated by distance and time (or both) to its source. This field of education focuses on technology and teaching methods to deliver lessons to individuals who cannot be physically present in a conventional learning setup like the classroom. The courses in distance learning that will require the student's on-site physical presence (for example in taking exams) are called blended or hybrid study courses.

The beginnings of distance learning dates back to 1728 when Caleb Philipps, a short hand teacher placed an ad for students who want to have their lessons sent to them on a weekly basis. The original practice of distance learning is to have the educational materials sent to the students  thru postal mail. The completed assignments or required paperwork of the students are sent back to their instructors to be checked and assessed for progress. Thus, a continuing correspondence is developed between teacher and student which led to the reference of this method of instruction to be also known as “correspondence school”.

Nowadays, the more common way to have access to distance learning is thru the internet. Going online bridges the gaps between the teacher and student, in terms of time and distance, in a faster and more efficient manner. This advancement in technology has led to the creation of two categories of the delivery system of distance education – the asynchronous and synchronous.

In Synchronous instruction, there is a simultaneous participation of both instructors and students. Their interaction happens in real time in the form of teleconferencing, telecourses, internet chats and web conferencing.

With Asynchronous instruction, the students are not required to gather together in one location at one time. The students could select their own time frame for instruction, interact with their instructors and work on their learning materials in a schedule that works for their convenience. This method of instruction is more flexible however its requires the necessity of having to impose time limits to be able to maintain student's participation and focus. This format is self-paced allowing the student to accommodate a variety of schedules and learning levels. The delivery of instruction comes in the form of emails, courses in audio cassettes and videotape formats, WWW-based courses, listservs, and correspondence courses.