spfister MODULE 2 - Defining distance education

Defining Distance Education

January 27, 2019

In my mind, defining distance education is broad and relative to different situations. The simplest way to describe distance education is that it allows knowledge sharing that is not dependant on timing or location and doesn’t need an onsite teacher, professor or tutor. Course information is more acceptable can often be accessed at nearly any time and from most locations. Communication, like lectures, can happen asynchronously, by recording the information in a format that can be accessed later. As online access grows, the ceiling of possibilities in the industry grows with it. Our information and data are getting more and more connected which will drive the practice of distance education to continued evolution.

Early on, there the idea of distance learning compared to traditional education was met with some challenges and doubters. Despite the debate and skepticism, distance education is actually a disruptive technology. Most of the original concerns have been addressed and even enhanced, like collaboration and accessibility. Degrees can be earned online entirely from one’s home or even a public library. Studying can take place at one’s own pace. There is no longer a dependency on being in a class or on campus at a certain time. Education from bigger schools with more advanced programs can be accessed worldwide. People in areas with less quality education have access to the same educators available in bigger schools.

Simonson’s theory of equivalency notes that traditional and distance education are not identical, but are equivalent. I really like this theory as it allows the different types of education to exist cohesively, focusing on the strengths of each. If distance education pulls ahead and disrupts classroom learning, then that is a failure to maintain equivalency in learning. Teaching should constantly adapt with society and with the needs of learners. As teachers, more than anything, we should strive to make sure that students learn the material that we are assigned to teach. We can’t assure that all students will learn by us teaching in the same manner.

Knowing the speed of technology and the ever-changing education landscape, I left my definition slightly open. I don’t think any definition that involves technology and learning is going to easily be stationary. Technological advances happen rapidly and the field of distance education will continue to advance at a high rate. As new devices and electronics are introduced to children, the way people learn will continue to change. The last few decades have seen the rise of computers, the increased popularity of the world wide web, and the explosion of smartphones. All of these technologies completely alter the way we teach and learn.