PowerPoint Presentation on Definitions, History and Theories of Distance Education. by Shamaria Lovett

1. DEFINITIONS, HISTORY AND
THEORIES OF DISTANCE
EDUCATION
By: Shamaria Lovett

2. Defining Distance Education
Distance Education is defined as an
institution based formal education
where the teacher and student are
separated. Telecommunications
systems connect the instructors,
students and other resources.
There are four components of
Distance Education; Institutionally
based, separation of teacher and
student, Interactive
Telecommunications, and Sharing
of data, voice and video (Learning
Experience).
Institutionally Based – This means
that it can be a traditional school
or college whereas the institution
offer instruction at a distance.
Separation of Teacher and Student
– This is where the instructor and
student are not in a traditional
school setting. Instruction is given
by way of telecommunications.
Interactive Telecommunications –
This mean that instruction can be
asynchronous or synchronous,
meaning at the same time or
different time.
Sharing of Data, Voice and Video
(Learning Experience) – This means
that the instruction and resources
are for instructional purposes.

3. A Brief History of Distance Education
◦ Correspondence Study
◦ The roots of distance education are 160 years old. Distance education in the form of correspondence which was established
in Germany by Charles Touissant and Gustav Lanenscheidt. Correspondence study crossed the Atlantic and piqued the
interest of over 10,000 students. Students corresponded with teachers once a month, who offered guided readings and
test.
◦ Electronic Communications
◦ In the early 1930s experimental television teaching programs and made cost effective in the 1980s. The first state
educational satellite system Learn/Alaska, was created in 1980. It offered six hours of instructional television daily to 100
villages.
◦ In the late 1980s early 1990s, the development of fiber-optic communications system allowed the expansion of live,
two-way, high quality audio and video systems in education.
◦ Distance Teaching University
◦ The 1962 decision that the University of South Africa would become a distance teaching university brought a
fundamental change in the way distance education was practice in much of the world.

4. A Brief History o Distance Education continued…
◦ Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
There is a debate over are MOOCs suitable for learning, this had been an ongoing debate. MOOCs are pre-
programmed self study programs versus the traditional classroom whereas a lecture would be given for a subject. MOOCs are
loaded with content and well-delivered presentation. Still theorists' debate whether MOOCs are for instructional review, but not
education.

5. History of
Distance
Education
The roots of Distance Learning
can date back to almost 160
years

6. Theory and Distance Education
◦ Theory of Independent Study – Charles
Wedmeyer
Wedmeyer set forth a system where learner
independence and adoption of technology as a
way to implement that independence.
This means that the student should be able to
have access to instruction even if the teacher is
present or not.
◦ Theory of Independent Study and Theory of
Transactional Distance - Michael Moore
Moore classifies distance learning as student or
teacher determined, autonomous or
nonautonomous. This means that this form of
distance learning is for students who needs little
assistance from the instructor.

7. Theory of Distance Education continued…
◦ Andragogy – Malcolm Knowles
Knowles theory is based on adult learning and
research and experience related to the
characteristics of the adult learner.
◦ A synthesis of Existing Theories – Hilary
Perraton
This theory stresses the way that distance
teaching can maximize education.

8. Theory of Distance Education continued…
◦ Theory of Industrialization of Teaching – Otto
Peters
Otto Peters theory proposed that distance
education could be analyzed and compared to
the industrial production of goods.
◦ Theory of Interaction and Communication –
Borje Holmberg
Holmberg noted that his theory had explanatory
value in relating to teaching effectiveness to the
impact of feelings of belonging and cooperation
as well as to the actual exchange of questions,
answers, and arguments in mediated
communication

9. Theory and Distance Education continued…
◦ A Theoretical Framework for Distance
Education – Desmond Keegan
His theory states that distance education is the
separation of teaching acts in time and place
from the learning acts. Distance education
requires the reintegration of the two acts.
◦ Fordism, Neo-Fordism, Post- Fordism: A
Theoretical Debate
In this theoretical debate it is believed that small
classes, rapport between teacher and student,
and personalized instruction are important
characteristics of the educational system versus
distance education where the teacher or
student is physically present

10. Works Cited
◦ Simonson, M. R., Smaldino, S. E., & Zvacek, S. (2019). Teaching and learning at a distance: foundations of distance education.
Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
◦ Flores Ph. D., J. G. (2007, June 11). Uniting Learners Around the World! Retrieved March 27, 2020, from www.usdla.org