distance education an overview james d. lehman, college of education

Distance EducationDistance Education

An Overview An Overview

James D. Lehman, College of EducationJames D. Lehman, College of Education


Refers to organized instruction in which Refers to organized instruction in which learners are physically separated from learners are physically separated from teachers, and learning resources are teachers, and learning resources are distributed via a medium or media.distributed via a medium or media.

Related terms are Related terms are distance learningdistance learning, , open learningopen learning, , open education, open education, distributed learning, distributed learning, and and distributed distributed educationeducation..

Role of TechnologyRole of Technology

Technology may be employed in Technology may be employed in distance learning to distance learning to • to facilitate communication between the to facilitate communication between the

teacher and learnersteacher and learners• to facilitate communication among learnersto facilitate communication among learners• because it is an effective and efficient way because it is an effective and efficient way

to present content and engage the learnersto present content and engage the learners

Learning Settings MatrixLearning Settings Matrix

Same Place Different Place

SameTime

DifferentTime

Traditional ClassroomInstruction

Time-ShiftedClassroomLearning

SynchronousDistanceLearning

AsynchronousDistanceLearning

Learning Settings MatrixLearning Settings Matrix

Same Place Different Place

SameTime

DifferentTime

Same Time – Same PlaceSame Time – Same PlaceTraditional ClassroomTraditional Classroom

Live lectures and demonstrationsLive lectures and demonstrations Laboratories and other hands-on workLaboratories and other hands-on work Live student-to-student as well as Live student-to-student as well as

teacher-to-student interactionsteacher-to-student interactions

Different Time – Same PlaceDifferent Time – Same PlaceTime-Shifted ClassroomTime-Shifted Classroom

Audio-tutorial and other modular forms Audio-tutorial and other modular forms of instructionof instruction

Videotaped lecturesVideotaped lectures Interaction may be mediated by Interaction may be mediated by

technology or provided in separate technology or provided in separate sessions for that purposesessions for that purpose

Same Time – Different PlaceSame Time – Different PlaceSynchronous Distance LearningSynchronous Distance Learning

Audio teleconferencing and radioAudio teleconferencing and radio Synchronous Internet communication Synchronous Internet communication

(e.g., chat, webinar)(e.g., chat, webinar) Video-based classes (both one-way and Video-based classes (both one-way and

two-way) and televisiontwo-way) and television Interaction is mediated by the Interaction is mediated by the

technology (often audio) technology (often audio)

Different Time – Different PlaceDifferent Time – Different PlaceAsynchronous Distance LearningAsynchronous Distance Learning Correspondence coursesCorrespondence courses Videotapes and other packaged Videotapes and other packaged

instructioninstruction Web-based courses (usually)Web-based courses (usually) Interaction is mediated by the Interaction is mediated by the

technologytechnology

Uses In EducationUses In Education

Let’s watch a short video that introduces Let’s watch a short video that introduces a little information about distance a little information about distance education options in the schools.education options in the schools.

In what ways is distance In what ways is distance education like traditional education like traditional

classroom learning? In what classroom learning? In what ways is it different?ways is it different?

Distance learning: why?Distance learning: why?

Why have distance education?Why have distance education?

The key issue is one of The key issue is one of accessaccess..

Traditionally, educational institutions Traditionally, educational institutions have been isolated islands of learning; have been isolated islands of learning; people have been forced to come to the people have been forced to come to the academy to seek knowledge.academy to seek knowledge.

Distance education allows people to Distance education allows people to pursue learning from different locales.pursue learning from different locales.

Access IssuesAccess Issues

Physical geography -- people may be Physical geography -- people may be located in rural or remote locations far located in rural or remote locations far from educational institutions (e.g., U.S. from educational institutions (e.g., U.S. West, Hawaii, other countries, rural West, Hawaii, other countries, rural Indiana).Indiana).


Individual disability -- injury, illness, or Individual disability -- injury, illness, or handicap may prevent an individual handicap may prevent an individual from attending an institution.from attending an institution.


Reaching new audiences -- for Reaching new audiences -- for institutions, a key attraction of distance institutions, a key attraction of distance learning is the potential to tap new learning is the potential to tap new audiences and thereby increase audiences and thereby increase enrollments.enrollments.


Institutional resources -- a small school Institutional resources -- a small school may not be able to justify the cost of a may not be able to justify the cost of a teacher of Chinese for the few students teacher of Chinese for the few students who might want to take it.who might want to take it.


Personal Resources -- affordability of Personal Resources -- affordability of education, especially higher and education, especially higher and continuing education, is a key concern continuing education, is a key concern that may be addressed through distance that may be addressed through distance learning.learning.


Time/Convenience -- increasingly, Time/Convenience -- increasingly, especially for adult learners, the biggest especially for adult learners, the biggest issue is time and the flexibility to pursue issue is time and the flexibility to pursue education amid other obligations.education amid other obligations.

Distance LearningDistance LearningDataData

College StatisticsCollege Statistics In 2000-01, the U.S. Dept. of Education In 2000-01, the U.S. Dept. of Education

gathered data about the use of distance gathered data about the use of distance learning in U.S. institutions of higher learning in U.S. institutions of higher education.education.

At that time, 56% of all institutions of higher At that time, 56% of all institutions of higher education offered some distance education education offered some distance education courses. Nearly 3,000,000 enrollments were courses. Nearly 3,000,000 enrollments were recorded in distance learning course (a 4-fold recorded in distance learning course (a 4-fold increase in 5 years)increase in 5 years)

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2003, NCES 2003-017..

College StatisticsCollege Statistics

Predominant delivery technologies Predominant delivery technologies included:included:• Internet-based courses (90%)Internet-based courses (90%)• Two-way interactive video (51%)Two-way interactive video (51%)• One-way video (41%)One-way video (41%)• CD-ROM (29%)CD-ROM (29%)

K-12 SchoolsK-12 Schools

A 2002-03 survey by the U.S. Dept. of A 2002-03 survey by the U.S. Dept. of Education looked into distance education in Education looked into distance education in K-12 schools.K-12 schools.

At that time, 9% of public schools had At that time, 9% of public schools had students enrolled in distance education students enrolled in distance education courses. Over 300,000 students were courses. Over 300,000 students were enrolled with proportionately more in rural enrolled with proportionately more in rural districts.districts.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2005, NCES 2005-010..

K-12 SchoolsK-12 Schools

About half of K-12 distance education About half of K-12 distance education enrollment were in advanced placement enrollment were in advanced placement courses.courses.

Predominant technologies were:Predominant technologies were:• Two-way video (55%)Two-way video (55%)• Asynchronous Internet courses (47%)Asynchronous Internet courses (47%)• Synchronous Internet courses (21%0Synchronous Internet courses (21%0• One-way video (16%)One-way video (16%)

Indiana Distance EducationIndiana Distance Education

CollegeCollege• IHETS (www.ihets.org)IHETS (www.ihets.org)

K-12K-12• Vision Athena (www.cilc.org)Vision Athena (www.cilc.org)• Indiana Online Academy Indiana Online Academy

(www.indianaonlineacademy.com)(www.indianaonlineacademy.com)

THE ENDTHE END

distance education an overview james d. lehman, college of education

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