What Does it All Mean?

        By Claudia Lynch, Benchmarks Editor (lynch@unt.edu)

        Distributed Learning, Distance Education, Distance Learning - what does it all mean? Are these all terms for basically the same thing or is there something that differentiates them from one another. The answer appears to be "yes."

        Distributed Learning

        According to Dr. Phil Turner (see footnote in previous article), who is our Associate Vice President for Distance Education:
          Distributed learning occurs as a portion of the standard contact hours of a course and is an organized teaching/learning event that occurs outside of the physical presence of the teacher. Distributed learning is technology based and can be either synchronous (occurs at a specific time) or asynchronous (occurs at various times). The foundation of distributed learning is the matching of instructional strategies, delivery systems and materials to learner characteristics and course content.
        Another definition was found at (http://www.dl.kent.edu/):
          Distributed Learning is the delivery of a University course or workshop over a distance using computers on a Wide Area Network. Courses delivered over the WAN can utilize desktop video conferencing and shared multimedia applications as well as more traditional network based delivery systems.

        Distance Education

        The question "What is Distance Education?" is answered by the University of Idaho ( http://www.uidaho.edu/evo/dist1.html) as follows:
          At its most basic level, distance education takes place when a teacher and student(s) are separated by physical distance, and technology (i.e., voice, video, data, and print), often in concert with face-to-face communication, is used to bridge the instructional gap. These types of programs can provide adults with a second chance at a college education, reach those disadvantaged by limited time, distance or physical disability, and update the knowledge base of workers at their places of employment.
        The University of Wisconsin provides us with some further definitions of distance education at their Web site
        ( http://www.uwex.edu/disted/definition.html):
          Distance Education is defined as a planned teaching/learning experience that uses a wide spectrum of technologies to reach learners at a distance and is designed to encourage learner interaction and certification of learning. - defined by University of Wisconsin-Extension, Continuing Education Extension, Distance Education subgroup
        Distance education (or correspondence/home study) is the enrollment and study with an educational institution which provides lesson materials prepared in a sequential and logical order for study by students on their own. When each lesson is completed the student makes available, by fax, mail, or computer, the assigned work for correction, grading, comment, and subject matter guidance by qualified instructors. Corrected assignments are returned to the student, an exchange which provides a personalized student-teacher relationship. - defined by The Distance Education and Training Council (DETIC)
        • Models of Distance Education. The term distance education represents a variety of educational models that have in common the physical separation of the faculty member and some or all of the students. - from A Conceptual Planning Tool Developed by the University of Maryland System Institute for Distance Education

        Distance Learning

        The University of Michigan, Information Technology Division (http://dmi.oit.itd.umich.edu/reports/DistanceLearn/sect1.html) provides us with the following definition of distance learning.
        • A classic short definition of distance learning or distance education is referenced in a paper by Grimes: "Any formal approach to learning in which the majority of the instruction occurs while the educator and learner are at a distance from each other." Based on this definition, Grimes lists early examples of distance education, such as when Isaac Pittman offered correspondence courses on shorthand in 1840. The University of Wisconsin used the term in its 1892 catalogue of correspondence courses. 1892 is now considered to be the year when distance education was born. In the same paper, Grimes describes how technology has enabled the recent phase of distance education. Thus, he offers a simple, succinct definition for modern distance education: "Taking instruction to the student through technology rather than the student to the instruction." Grimes also paraphrases Keegan who proposed specific criteria for distance education:
          1. "Separation of the teacher and learner (during at least a majority of the instructional process)."
          2. The influence of an educational organization (including the provision of student evaluation)."
          3. "The use of educational media to unite teacher and learner (and carry course content)."
          4. "The provision of two-way communication (between teacher, tutor, or educational agency and learner)."

        The Definitive Difference?

        Virginia Steiner of The Distance Learning Resource Network (DLRN) seems to settle everything when she answers the question "What is Distance Education?" at her Web site (http://www.fwl.org/edtech/distance.html) - or does she? According to Steiner, "Distance Education is instructional delivery that does not constrain the student to be physically present in the same location as the instructor. Historically, Distance Education meant correspondence study. Today, audio, video, and computer technologies are more common delivery modes. The term Distance Learning is often interchanged with Distance Education. However, this is inaccurate since institutions/instructors control educational delivery while the student is responsible for learning. In other words, Distance Learning is the result of Distance Education. Another term that has experienced some recent popularity is Distributed Education. This term may represent the trend to utilize a mix of delivery modes for optimal instruction and learning."

        For Further Information

        The Distance Education Clearing House is chock full of all sorts of useful information (http://www.uwex.edu/disted/home.html). Check it out.

        1. Grimes, G. "Going the Distance with Technology . . . Happy 100th Anniversary to Distance Education," etin, May 1993, pp. 6-8.

        2. Keegan, D. The Foundations of Distance Education. London: Croom Helm, 1996.

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