Online Education - The Golden Opportunity You Have Been Looking For

Distance Learning - Online Class

The rapid growth of information and communication technologies along with increased computer knowledge of students makes new education techniques, such as Distance learning possible. This type of education aims to deliver course material to students who are not physically on site. Rather than attending courses in person, teachers and students exchange information through a variety of ‘high-tech’ or ‘low-tech’ technologies.

Synchronous & Asynchronous Instruction

There are two distance education delivery system categories; synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous instruction requires the simultaneous participation of all students and instructors. The advantage of synchronous instruction is that interaction is done in "real time" and has immediacy. Examples include interactive telecourses, teleconferencing or web conferencing and Internet chats.

Asynchronous instruction does not require the simultaneous participation of all students and instructors. Students do not need to be gathered together in the same location at the same time. Rather, students may choose their own instructional time frame and interact with the learning materials and instructor according to their schedules. Asynchronous instruction is more flexible than synchronous instruction, but experience has shown that time limits are necessary to maintain focus and participation. The self-paced format accommodates multiple learning levels and schedules. Examples of asynchronous delivery include e-mail, audio CD, videotaped courses and course books.

Types of Distance Education Courses

Distance learning has been associated with the delivery of information in relatively resource-rich environments. On the other hand, due to communication bandwidth constraints companies are using “low-tech” distance learning alternatives. Radio has remained a very viable form, especially in the developing nations, because of its reach. In India, for example the FM channel is very popular and is being used by universities to broadcast educational programs on a variety of areas such as teacher education, rural development and science. Even in developed countries like Australia, radio is still prevalent in the country’s remote central areas.

On the other hand, distance education has traversed six ‘generations’ of technology over the course of its history. These are: print, audio/video broadcasting, audio/video teleconferencing, computer aided instruction, e-learning/ online-learning, computer broadcasting/webcasting. In recent years there has been a phenomenal increase in the number of what can loosely be termed ‘mobile devices,’ as well as significant advancement in their technical sophistication. The increasing popularity of mp3 players, pda’s and Smart Phones has provided an additional medium for the distribution of distance education content. All of these devices share the key characteristic of mobility and, to varying degrees; they can process digital data and digital media. Moreover, ever greater numbers of these devices are becoming Internet-enabled. Increasingly, staff and students within higher education institutions own and make use of these devices.

Testing and Evaluation

Distance education has long had trouble with testing. The delivery of testing materials is fairly straightforward, simply making sure it is available to the students and that he or she is able to read it at their leisure. The problem arises when the participant is required to complete assignments and tests. Online courses have had difficulty controlling cheating on quizzes, tests, or examinations. This is simply because of the lack of teacher control. In a traditional classroom setting a facilitator can monitor students and visually uphold a level of integrity consistent with an institution's reputation. On the other hand, with distance education the student can be completely removed from forms of supervision. Organizations are addressing integrity issues which concern testing by requiring students to take examinations in a controlled setting.

The advent of multi-media communication devices and rising computer knowledge has created a variety of alternative learning mediums. Distance learning is becoming increasingly relevant in many organizations, especially for busy professionals who are always on the go. Throughout the years, distance learning has come in all shapes and sizes, and shall continuously evolve for the betterment of education.