Definition of Distance Learning

The evolution of technology has broad effects on many different parts of society including everything from government and private businesses to education. One of technology’s largest effects on education is its ability to grow the area of distance learning, which is evolving into distance education. What exactly is the definition of distance education? In 2003, Simonson defined it as "institutional-based formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources and instructors”. (as cited in Simonson, 2009, p. 32)

Distance education has roots in distance learning, because you can date distance learning all the way back to 1833 with “European newspapers offering composition, language and civil service examination courses through mail correspondence”. (Laureate Education, Inc., n.d). My personal definition of distance learning was much more limited prior to research and reading about the topic.

I have always associated distance learning with online school and the general topic of eLearning. One of the key explanations from Simonson was that, if you remove the professor/instructor from the mix of distance education it’s no longer that, it becomes self study at a distance.

With distance learning being around for over a 170 years, one would assume it would have a solid base and acceptance in society, yet up until that last 10-15 years it hasn’t. Simonson talks about distance education being at the point of “critical mass” meaning where at the point where promoted the positive aspect of eLearning isn’t as much of a priority as just promoting the existence and how it can be applied to many different degrees. It’s very easy to see what Simonson is talking about, if you research for an online degree it’s not only schools like Walden University and University of Phoenix offering online degrees, now Harvard offers 20 different undergrad and graduate degree programs online. (http://www.extension.harvard.edu/programs)

The question of all questions for distance learning, what does the future hold? I think it’s very simple, the future is that distance education is going to keep growing and technology is going to keep playing a larger role in education. When I think back to a few years ago when I was at a normal brick and mortar school the online learning management system (LMS) was a huge part of the class structure. The format was not that far off my experience with Walden, it was download and read the articles from the school LMS and then write a discussion paper and MAYBE you would share your view in class!

References:
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.). Pearson Publishers.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2006). Movie title extraordinaire [Web]. Baltimore, MD: Author.