Distance Education

Distance education, or distance learning, is the education and instruction of students not physically present on the teaching site. Throughout history, distance education has taken place, but not to the degree and way it does in today's world. Today, distance education is achieved through technological means. Both public and private institutions of varying grade levels offer distance education, but it is most popular at colleges and universities, with more than 96% of the largest offering courses through distance education. Students can partake in distance education through television, radio, internet, CD-ROM, or mobile devices. The most common form of distance education is online learning, which utilizes online technologies to connect educator and student. This allows them to be in different places at different times and still connect for education. Online instruction is often mixed with limited in-person interaction, called blended instruction. Another form of online instruction on the rise is virtual education, in which the educational institution down not physically exist, but is a "virtual" online institution and all student services are provided online.

Many advantages come with distance education. Students are allowed to learn at their own pace because learning is done on the student's own time and there is no time constraint like being in a classroom; there is flexibility in when the student can learn the material and how the student wants to go about learning it; there is greater access to multimedia in lessons because technology is already being used; and students have greater access to education they may not have due to distance or availability where they are. There are some downsides to distance education as well. It can be costly; there are concerns about security of information transferred online; and there is a lack of motivation, encouragement, discipline, immediate access to educators, and personal interaction that comes with face to face education.

As an kindergarten teacher, I do not think full distance education would be a good idea, but I do think there are some ways to use distance education and online "courses" to enhance material being taught in the class. I could set up "courses" online for my students to complete at home. These courses would not be all inclusive or as complicated as they are in higher levels, but they can include games, worksheets, and practice problems on an easy to maneuver web page. This will ensure their education continues out of the classroom, that lessons are enhanced, and that they stay engaged in an interactive and fun way.



The video above is an informational video about online education in the K-12 grade levels. I chose it because it focuses on students below the college level, whoa re often forgotten when talking about distance education. It explains how online education can benefit these younger children, the advantages to and importance of online online learning in today's world, and the positive impact it has. The speakers are accredited, professional educators experienced in both face to face and distance education.