Defining Distance Learning/ Not cut and dry

Learning is not just books anymore.

Over the past decade that I have been taking online classes I have been a part of several different types of courses.  One winter intersession course I took at Arizona State University two meetings the first was to go over the coursework and the last was to take the final essay exam. The rest of the learning was on the students.  I had a few courses where you were allowed to turn in assignments whenever you wanted as long as everything was turned in by the end date.  Then I’ve had other courses where there were things due weekly.  Finally, I’ve had courses which include my Walden studies in which there were many facets to the course and several deadlines a week and included discussion forums.  These experiences have led me to the definition of distance learning as learning coursework on my own time schedule without having to attend a physical university classroom. 

The definition of distance learning in the industry has changed and evolved over time as well as people’s personal concepts of distance learning. One definition of distance learning comes from Hillary Perraton (1988), “distance education is an educational process in which a significant proportion of the teaching is conducted by someone removed in space and/or time from the learner” (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012, p. 34).  This definition to me encompasses what many others have said but in a way that is concise and to the point.  My definition therefore, would combine what Perraton (1988) has said but also adding a component with technology.  Distance education or learning is a process that involves students that learn and teachers that teach but this teacher student relationship generally is not at the same time or the same place and often times is conducted using some type of technology or correspondence. 

Women in Africa learning through radio,
MP3s and other devices.

Each person that chooses to partake in distance learning has one concept of what will transpire and then once they have participated they begin to change their definition because of their experiences.  This is for multiple reasons; a person’s experiences will dictate what their definition encompasses in the beginning and after taking courses.  This is because, if a person is just starting distance learning classes but has a background in computers their definition may be very different that someone who is just starting to learn about computers and distance learning.  The ever-changing definitions in the field are always changing because as technology has flourished distance learning has changed and grown.  You could almost say that technology and distance learning have grown up together and as they continue to grow up new technologies drive new ways distance learning is designed, created and implemented.

The future of distance learning has great possibilities due to the technological advancements of Web 2.0 and technologies that have not been invented yet or used for distance learning yet.  I agree with Simonson (n.d.) that distance learning will have substantial growth it will not replace traditional schools but will become incorporated in various learning environments whether in education or professional development in the private sector.

Mindmap of Distance Learning

References:

Africa Educational Trust. (2008). Women Learning. Retrieved on September 8, 2012 from http://www.africaeducationaltrust.org/what-we-do/alternative-education-basic-skills.html

Business Access.  (2012). Books with Mouse. Retrieved on September 8, 2012 from http://www.business-access.com/ba/Results/white_papers

Simonson, M.,(n.d.). Distance education: the next generation. Retrieved on September 8, 2012 from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1373692_1%26url%3D

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