What is Distance Learning?

Before starting this Distance Learning course, my personal definition of distance learning was very fragmented and vague.  To me, all learning that was delivered by any means other than face-to-face, was distance learning.  When I would hear someone mention distance learning or distance education, my first thought was online learning.  My understanding was further expanded when I first became associated with Walden University and learned that when Walden was founded it consisted of only doctoral level programs comprised of correspondence courses.  This option is still available today through the Canter, graduate courses for teachers program. 


If learning is the act of acquiring information, and distance means geographical distance, time distance, or intellectual distance (Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S., 2009); distance learning is very wide and nonspecific term.  In Teaching and Learning at a Distance, distance education was defined as "an institution-based, formal education were the learning group is separated, and where the interactive telecommunication systems are used to connect learners, resources, and instructors."  In the later definition, several restrictions have been inserted. 


I disagree that distance learning needs to be institution-based or formal education.  The term has been defined to explain the change in educational formats in K-12 education, higher education, and corporate training. This is evident in the multitude of synonymous naming schemes such as: distance learning, distance education, eLearning, computer based training, etc.  

In my opinion the definition of the term should be based on the root words and unrestricted, covering the widest of ranges.  Additional identifiers should be added to be more specific about the learning format, delivery, or technology.  An example of this would be engineering.  To narrow this term to a more specific area of interest, we included these identifiers.  Today we commonly address more specific fields and career such as mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, software engineer, etc.  Distance learning and education should follow this schema.

My vision for the future of distance learning is that it should continue to evolve.  Each sector that stakes claim to its applicability should differentially identify itself within the realm of distance learning.  Technology has enabled us to radically alter the ways in which we learn, we need a clear set of standards that will help us identify and distinguish how this is done.






Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.
Definition of learning. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/learning
Graduate Courses for K–12 Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.canter.net/