Personal Definition of Distance Education

The definition for distance education is something that has changed over time since the
term was first used. Part of the reason for the changing definitions is due to the changing
medium through which distance education is delivered. A definition which has been accepted by
Encyclopedia Britannica is:
institution-based, formal education where the learning group is separated, and where
interactive telecommunications system are used to connect learners, resources, and
instructors. (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2012, p. 7)
Hilary Perraton defined distance education as an education processes in which
significant proportion of the teaching is conducted by someone removed in space and/or time
from the learner (Simonson, et al., 2012, p. 34).
I feel the single most component for the definition of distance education should include
teachers and learners are not in the same place and may or may not be in the same time.
Learning can take place synchronously or asynchronously, but the teacher and learner are in two
different locations. Distance education could involve self-study or could involve group work as
well as attending a lecture in real time while sitting in the comfort of your own home. While I
do not feel that distance education should incorporate the method in which instruction is taking
place, I do believe that it does mean that learning is occurring at a separate location than where
the teaching is happening. I also feel that Simonsons definition while very broad, should be
even broader and not be limited to institution-based. I think that distance education should
include training seminars that employees must attend in order to further their career. For
example, in some locations, school bus drivers can receive credit through their place of
employment by completing safety courses by watching the lessons on-line and taking a test when
completed and upon receiving a satisfactory grade, receive a certificate of completion for the
course.
If the definition of distance education is as simple as education that occurs when the
teacher and learner are not in the same room, then I do feel that this will withstand the test of
time. The definition does not include the specific medium through which this education will take
place. The future is open to endless possibilities with technology constantly changing. When
the definitions include the medium through which the distance education is occurring, then the
definition is going to only last as long as the technology does not change or advance.


References
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2003). Teaching and learning
at a distance: Foundations of distance education. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.