What is Distance Learning?
I had heard of virtual elementary schools, virtual conferences and virtual classes. I had also read about “at home” study programs but never joined any. Having a computer with internet access and joining my online classes at Walden University is the first time I engage in any kind of distance learning. But I never thought of defining what distance learning means.
Before my first online class I thought of distance learning simply as the action of learning information provided, where the instructor was at a location different than the learner. This is one of the components of distance education definition provided by Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). However, Simonson, M. et. al. (2009) shares three other components I had not considered to define distance learning: being institutionally based; there is interactive telecommunication, and sharing of data, voice, and video between learners and instructors alike.
It is clear to me that the concept of “distance” implies physical separation between the learner and the facilitator, but I have a problem with the institutionally based component of the author’s definition. Simonson, M. et. al. (2009) state “this is what differentiates distance education from self-study” (p. 32). If find this not so accurate in my experience when I think of all the learning which can and has taken place from people all over the world who do not belong to an educational institution and yet has learned information or has provided information which has been learned. Learning also takes place in these situations and as I found out during my first online class, 90% of all we learn occurs as informal learning, not through institutions (Jennings, C., 2010).
However I must point out that the definitions given in our textbook refer to distance “education” not distance “learning”. There has been an established difference between education and learning as being two different concepts. Education is seen as something acquired from another source, whereas learning is the never ending action which happens through experience(http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-education-and-learning).
The third component of interactive communication used by Simonson, M. et. al. (1009) in their definition certainly takes a major role in making distance learning possible. In my experience, the use of the Internet has been the principal venue. The use of videos, data sharing and voice recordings as the fourth component of Simonson, M. et. al. (1009) is also found within the Internet. I have used both components in my distance learning experience and this has happened not only by and from instructors but classmates as well.
After reading of the history of distance learning and the many definitions which have come up throughout, I have a more defined idea of what distance learning means to me. Distance learning may include the following characteristics which are part of the definitions provided by Simonson, M. et. al. (2009):
1. Learner is not in the same place as person providing new information.
2. There is use of interactive telecommunications, including the internet.
3. Learner and provider of information interact synchronously or asynchronously.
Of my own interpretation of what distance learning looks like to me I would add:
4. Provider of information is not necessarily a teacher or professor, but nevertheless a subject matter expert (SME)
5. Learner is a part of a community, not necessarily an educational institution (Wenger, E., 2010).
Distance learning is but one of the ways, though considering the use of technology and how this increments availability of information, I can certainly imagine the impact it will have in children’s education. The most vulnerable population being children, distance learning could reach remote areas with the use of technology, where they could gain access to information and have chances to learn more in their lives.
Indian education scientist Sugata Mitra is certainly using concepts of distance learning with children living in remote areas of India and though there is no direct instruction from a teacher, the computers he used have been set up to facilitate learning. Yet another way to consider education through learning experiences at a distance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk60sYrU2RU). We live in amazing times to consider learning experiences to be available to everyone in the planet.
Resources
Jennings, C (2010) 8 Reasons to Focus on Informal & Social Learning. Slide Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/charlesjennings/8-reasons-to-focus-on-informal-social-learning
Mitra, S. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk60sYrU2RU
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.
Wenger, E. (2010) Digital Habitats and Community Practice Presentation. Retrieved from http://mediasite.ics.uwex.edu/mediasite5/Viewer/?peid=08fd5f11580c476ab1da01afe92a7aaa
