by Max Gallo

Created on: June 30, 2007   Last Updated: July 05, 2011

Distance learning is one of the shades of what can be loosely termed on-line learning. The distance learning referred to here is electronically mediated - distance learning has been around for a very long time, even in the days of snail-mail and peddle radio in Australia.

A basic definition of distance learning is the need to undertake learning via a model other than face-to-face. The constraints being distance or incompatible time or both. The advent of the Internet has made this model - already existent in the past - much more efficient and effective in obvious ways. These efficiencies have seen the number of people taking advantage of learning opportunities grow exponentially. Quality has also improved with the possibilities of having video and to some extent interaction.

Until recently I would have argued that the benefits of the Internet based distance learning model compared to the "traditional" distance learning was overwhelmingly one of efficiency. Speed of exchange of materials and e-mail exchanges vastly improved on the old mail and letter model. I would have further argued that the face-to-face with a human interlocutor was by far the better option; This was very much due to the poor quality of synchronous tools on the Internet. In fact, until a couple of years ago most, if not all, of the distance learning was asynchronous. However, with the advent and great improvement of synchronous tools which allow the "distant" learner to participate with peers and tutors as if present in a class, the distance learning model today is very close to the "in-class" experience with the freedom of doing it at a distance.

The quality of materials in many distance learning courses has also greatly improved over the past five years. As learners and educators have become more familiar with the available tools the quality of the materials and the array of embedded functions offered by tools has made the learning experience rich, engaging and rewarding. A well managed distance learning course via the Internet will today include a learning environment which one logs into. This environment will identify the learner and present materials relevant to their course and tools for communicating like an embedded e-mail system and chat options including grouping functions for team-work and collaboration.

I would conclude that if there are constraints that require you to choose to do learning at a distance then today is the time to do it. I think it is probably difficult to find any course nowadays that does not have an on-line element built in. In fact, many courses mandate that a component or part of the course be done on-line in what is being called the blended learning model. Another growing area is the flexible learning model where the learner can choose to do a course component either on-line or in a face-to-face setting or both.

The last driver in the distance learning model will be learner numbers. While this may not be relevant to encouraging you to doing college on-line from home think about this:
There are not enough educators to teach all the people who require education on earth. One way perhaps of overcoming this gigantic hurdle is distance education.

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