Distance Education Programs

Distance education programs can be engaged in several ways.  There are distance education programs that are conducted through mail correspondence, correspondence via the internet either synchronously or asynchronously, and through telecast or broadcast in which the correspondence is delivered via the television or radio.  There are also distance education programs that are stored on CDROM and on devices such as PocketPCs, mobile phone and/or pilot devices through a wireless server.

It is thought that distance education programs began in Great Britain in the 1840’s but with the development of the modern postal service, colleges were able to mass mail correspondence to students all over the United States.  Sometimes distance education programs are confused with open educational programs.  The difference being that open education programs are conducted in the place, time, and at the discretion of the student whereas distance education programs are conducted when the teacher and student are separated by time and place.  Some collegiate institutions are combining distance and on-campus students in course work. Some professors may allow distance education students to watch on-campus class meetings live via online in streaming video, and display real-time comments from distance education students in an online chat room displayed during the lecture, providing the possibility for real-time discussion between both types of students simultaneously.  This technique is also employed in motor vehicle dealerships by technicians and service advisors.  Manufacturer training for recalls, technical assistance, and general repair and modifications training is accomplished through live feed via telecast in which technicians all over the country are invited to learn, ask questions, answer questions, and interact through the touch of a button on a key pad.

Although this method is not the most popular with the advent of on-line programs, it is still a viable option for the student who is not in one place for any known length of time due to military obligations, business trips, or anywhere else life may bring them.