Distance learning or distance education is sometimes also considered home schooling. And while the two can overlap, they are really two different things. Usually home schooling is considered as instruction at home with a parent or tutor(s) and not associated with a school. With distance education, there is usually an outside instructor (as part of a formal school) that gives lessons, grades assignments and tests and sometimes interacts real time with a student, depending on the type of distance learning education course. This is the teacher mediated option (TMO), although the independent study option (ISO) is also considered distance learning.
Distance learning is popular for adults, as seen by the successful and for-profit Phoenix University. But more and more families are choosing it for their children, too. Usually, distance education involves lots of technology. Some school districts may make this technology, which can include computers, CDs, DVDs, and even Internet connections, available for free to students who are part of distance learning education.
Here is a brief run down of the different types of distance learning, according to Wikipedia:
• Correspondence conducted through regular mail
• Internet conducted either synchronously or asynchronously
• Telecourse/Broadcast, in which content is delivered via radio or television
• CD-ROM, in which the student interacts with computer content stored on a CD-ROM
• PocketPC/Mobile Learning where the student accesses course content stored on a mobile device or through a wireless server
• Integrated distance learning, the integration of live, in-group instruction or interaction with a distance learning curriculum
What does a typical day look like for a student using distance education? This really depends. There are programs that practice real-time teaching, in which all students connect to a virtual or physical classroom at the same time and go through lessons as they might if they were physically present. Other programs allow students to work at their own pace and their own hours as long as the work is completed.
I practiced distance education to receive a certification in technical writing. As part of the class, I had reading assignments, lesson plans to follow, auditory and video instruction, forum discussions and more. I worked with fellow students all across the country on joint projects. This was for only one course of study made up of multiple classes.
Do you have any experience with distance education? Please leave a comment about your thoughts or experiences.
Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans.
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