| Students who are not physically sitting in a class | | | | which is flexible. Find more info at many cases, |
| room to get their education are taught using | | | | students do sit in traditional classrooms and they |
| technology based instructional systems designed | | | | are connected to a teacher in a distant classroom |
| for remote access. This system is known as | | | | through videoconference. This technology |
| distance learning or distance education. Students | | | | increases the power of teaching and |
| and teachers communicate with each other | | | | learning.During its history, distance learning has |
| through printed materials or electronic media or | | | | passed through the experience of four to five |
| using a technology that provides real-time | | | | different methods of teaching using the |
| communications.Distance learning uses regular mail | | | | technology available at that time. The technology |
| for correspondence. Real-time or offline internet | | | | that was used were print, video/audio broadcasts, |
| resources are also used in this system. Television | | | | teleconference using video/audio technology, |
| or radio is used to make educational broadcasts | | | | instruction aided by computers and computer |
| to reach the students of distance learning. | | | | based broadcasting. In developing nations, the |
| Isaac Pitman used the very first modern | | | | radio is used for distance learning and considered |
| distance learning system in 1840 to teach | | | | to be a very powerful medium. In India the virtual |
| shorthand through correspondence.Since 1946, | | | | university and distance learning centers use FM |
| correspondence courses in the distance-learning | | | | broadcasting which is very popular among the |
| mode were offered by the University of South | | | | students.Earlier models of distance learning used |
| Africa, which is one of the oldest distance learning | | | | regular mail to dispatch written materials. Among |
| universities in the world. In UK, the Open | | | | the developing nations, this method is still used in |
| University was founded in 1969.For-profit | | | | distance learning.In distance learning both full time |
| institutions, non-profit organizations, public and | | | | and part time studies are possible but most of |
| privates institutions are offering degree programs | | | | the students prefer part time studies. Even |
| and courses in distance learning. There is varying | | | | though distance learning is offered at various |
| level of accreditation for such institutions. Some of | | | | levels, it is the most popular option for university |
| the institutions in USA have very little focus from | | | | level studies. Distance learning is also known as |
| the countries outside and some of them are | | | | correspondence courses since the teacher and |
| mere diploma mills, which are mostly | | | | the student corresponded through the regular mail. |
| fraudulent.The distance-learning program was | | | | For children living in remote areas secondary and |
| greatly benefited in the twentieth century by | | | | primary education programs are available.Testing |
| using Internet, television and radio.Even though the | | | | material caused trouble for distance learning right |
| presence of a student is not compulsory in | | | | from its inception. The problem occurs when the |
| distance learning, with the advent of technology, | | | | student has to complete the assignment and |
| physical presence or lack of it has become an | | | | undergo testing. In distance learning a student is |
| option. In distance learning, electronic classrooms | | | | completely removed from supervision during the |
| can be classified as off campus or on campus. It | | | | evaluation period.Lucy Bartlett is a proud |
| is known as institutions using a mode of delivery, | | | | contributing author. |