Distance Education

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Distance Education

• Janet Poley
• President ADEC
• www.adec.edu

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Definition

• Distance education is planned learning that
  normally occurs in a different place from
  teaching and as a result requires special
  techniques of course design, special
  instructional techniques, special methods of
  communication by electronic and other technology,
  as well as special organizational and
  administrative arrangements.

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Levels of Distance Education

• Distance Learning Module/Unit
• Distance Learning Course/Program

• Distance Learning Institution (virtual university
  - open university)
• Distance Learning Consortium

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Distance Ed - Long History

• Correspondence Independent Study
• Agricultural Extension
• Radio - 1920s
• University Telecourses -1950 - today

• Computer Based Training
• Internet1
• CDs
• Web-Based/Internet
• Internet2

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Best Teaching/Learner Focus

• Not repositories of knowledge
• Skilled navigation of knowledge base
• Lead/guide others to discover and understand
• Different models
• Empower learners

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Lessons Learned

• Distance Education can expand learning
  opportunities
• Distance Education can be very high quality
• Distance Education requires infrastructure for
  instructional design, administration, technology
  and learner support

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Use of Internet and Computers

• Early Phase of Development
• Distributed Learning - Networks - Databases -
  Simulations - Global
• Advantages and Disadvantages - Better for
  Teaching/Learning Some Things

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Growing Worldwide Interest

• Increasing importance of knowledge and increasing
  amount of knowledge
• Communities of Interest are Global
• Lifelong Learning - Everybody is Involved in
  Learning - Just In Time - Anywhere, Anytime,
  Anyplace
• Technology Driven Job Market

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Access - Success

• Distance Education Learners Have to Do More For
  Themselves
• Distance Education Learners Require Support
  System and Services
• Increasingly Mixing Learners and Technologies -
  Global Seminars - Young and Experienced -
  Synchronous/Asychronous