An Evolving Definition of Distance Learning

Distance Learning Mind Map

                

     When I was a little girl, I loved Saturday afternoons.  Saturday afternoons meant several things depending on the time of year.  In the spring, summer, and fall it meant endless hours (or what felt like endless hours) in the fields near my home, playing kickball, or hide and seek, or baseball, or football.  However, in the winter, it meant something else.  With the snow falling, the wind blowing, and the temperatures well below zero, Saturday afternoons meant indoor time.  Saturday afternoons meant my sister, mom, myself, and Julia Childs. 

      In this week's application prompt we have been asked to give our initial definition of distance education, and then create a new definition based on what we have learned about its evolution using this week's resources.  As this class began last week the only definition that came to mind concerning distance learning, was higher-level online education.  I suppose this is because I have been so deeply immersed in online education for the past year, that I could not expand my paradigm to include anything else.  However, when I took some time to reflect on my experiences with distance learning, I realized that my childhood was filled with distance learning experiences.  I did not realize it at the time, but my first distance learning experiences were those Saturday afternoons filled with the melodic voice of Julia Childs, my mom, her handy yellow legal pad and the PBS station out of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

     By definition, the education I was receiving on those Saturday afternoons cannot be considered distance learning.  Distance learning is defined as "institution-based, formal education where the learning group is separated and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources and instructors."  (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2012, p. 32).  This definition can be expanded to include that the separation of learner and instructor includes geography, time, and intellect.  (Simonson, n.d).  Though Ms. Childs was educating me on the finer points of cooking (and eating), nothing in that education could be considered institution-based or formal.

     What is interesting about the definition of distance learning is that it is continuously changing.  The definition given in the previous paragraph is well suited to today's education ideas and available technologies.  However, the definition of distance learning was very different in the past, and will evolve again in the future.  The history of distance learning stretches as far back as two centuries.  Early in its history, distance learning was defined by the written word and the ability to deliver that writing.  Correspondence courses in countries such as Sweden, England and France in the mid 19th century opened the doors of education for many who would otherwise not have educational opportunities (Tracey, & Richey, 2005). These correspondence type courses made their way to the United States in the later part of the 19th century at the University of Chicago, and gained acceptance throughout the country as a viable form of education (Tracey, & Richey, 2005).  This method of distance learning remained steady throughout the 20th century, but began to evolve with the advent of technologies such as the radio, and then again with the invention and wide distribution of television. 

     When considering a definition of distance learning, one cannot omit the importance of technology in the evolution of the definition.  With the emergence of each new technology, there has been a corresponding change in the number of people who can access this learning, as well as changes in learning theory as it applies to distance teaching and learning (Simonson, et, al, 2012). Presently, computer-supported online learning is growing faster than any other type of distance learning (Tracey, & Richey, 2005).  This is not surprising when one considers the combination of Web 2.0 and a wide variety of high-powered portable devices available to run this technology.  However, it is not the technology alone that has changed the scope of distance learning.  A student population that needs a broader range of education options (Simonson, et al, 2012), is tech savvy and able to evolve with the technology has helped foster the current evolution in the definition of distance learning. 

     When I think about the future of distance learning, many visions of expansion come to mind.  The first is how current economic times will contribute to the increasing demand for online distance education.  In the past, many workers could depend on a single steady job they would keep until it came time to retire.  This option is quickly disappearing from the landscape.  As a result an increasing number of workers will need to re-train or re-educate themselves in a way that works with a busy schedule.  A second vision deals with the expansion of higher education institutions that will increase the scope and depth of distance learning because of the potential financial benefits that could come about by making their programming accessible to more students (Tracey, & Richey, 2005).   A third vision deals with the implementation of distance learning into K-12 education.  As more school districts struggle with increasing costs and decreasing budgets, many schools may start to turn to distance learning as a way to alleviate costs due to facilities and transportation.  The challenge for K-12 educators will be to find ways to offer distance learning that can foster important skills and relationships between learners, and educators that will offer meaningful collaboration,  as a way to keep novice learners motivated and interested (Huett, Moller, Foshay, & Coleman, 2008). 

     In the end, I started this class with one definition of distance learning.  My narrow view of distance learning based on my own experience.  I can now expand that definition to include the definition provided in this week's resources.  A definition that expands the scope to include formal, institution based, technology driven education where teachers and students are separated by time, space and knowledge (Simonton, et, al, 2012).  What will be fun to watch over the next years will be to see how this definition will evolve again.  What technologies will emerge, and which human needs and ideas will change this definition?  All I know are the chances of the definition of distance learning evolving again are excellent.  For me, I am really hoping that whoever creates the new definition of distance learning will find a way to include the excellent lessons of Julia Child.

References

Huett, J. Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Coleman, C. (2008).  The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 3: Training and development). Tech Trends, 52(5), 63-67.

Simonson, M. (Writer) (n.d.) Distance Education: The next generation[Web] Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=6493362&Survey=1&478884161&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=1&bhcp=1.

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: foundations of distance education. (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Tracey, M., & Richey, R. (2005). The evolution of distance education. Distance Learning, 2(6), 17-21