MODULE 2

1. DEFINITIONS,HISTORY,ANDTHEORIESOF
DISTANCEEDUCATION
Joyce Davis

2. DEFINITIONS,
HISTORY,AND
THEORIESOF
DISTANCE
EDUCATION
 Defining Distance Education as institution based,
formal education where learning group is separated
and where interactive telecommunications systems are
used to connect learners, resources and instructors. In
the rapidly changing and diverse environment in which
distance education is practiced, many questions remain
unanswered.

3. DEFINITIONS,
HISTORY,AND
THEORIESOF
DISTANCEEDUCATION
 Distance education has evolved as technological media
have been developed. Newer technologies make
possible different ways to allow students to learn at a
distance.
 And this promote the development of new definitions of
distance education. The practice of a profession
determines the definition of the profession.

4. DEFINITIONS,HISTORY,AND
THEORIESOFDISTANCE
EDUCATION
Equivalent theory :An American theory of distance education.
Equivalent rather than identical, learning experiences should be
provided to each learner whether local or distant, and the
expectation should be that equivalent outcomes, rather than
identical, should be expected of each learner.

5. Distance Education
Distance education has evolved as technological media have
been developed. Newer technologies make possible different
ways to allow students to learn at a distance, and this
promotes the development of new definitions of distance
education.

6. Distance Education
Keegan identified five main elements of these
definitions using them to compose a comprehensive
definition of distance education. The quasi
permanent separation of teacher and learner
through the length of the learning process.

7. DEFINITIONS,
HISTORY,AND
THEORIESOF
DISTANCE
EDUCATION
 Changes in society politics, economics, and technology
are impacting the status of distance education around
the world.
 In some cases, distance education around the world is
seen as an answer to inadequate educational
opportunities caused by political and/or economic
instability.

8. DEFINITIONS,
HISTORY,AND
THEORIESOF
DISTANCE
EDUCATION
 In other situations, established distance education
providers are being required by a changing society to
convert form mass instruction to more decentralized
approach to meet the diverse needs of their students.
 In many countries the need for continuing education or
training and access to degree programs is accelerated
by the demands of a changing society.
 Students in rural or isolated parts of the world look to
distnace education for opportunities to keep up with
the outside world.

9. DEFINITIONS,
HISTORY,AND
THEORIESOF
DISTANCE
EDUCATION
 Andragogy ---Malcom Knowles The establishment of a
climate conducive to adult learning which includes a
physical environment that is conducive to the physical
well being of the adult learner.

10. DEFINITIONS,HISTORY,
ANDTHEORIESOF
DISTANCEEDUCATION
 A Synthesis of Existing Theories —Hilary Perraton----
This theory is composed of elements from existing
theories of communication and diffusion, as well as
philosophies of education.
 You can use any medium to teach anything Distance
teaching can break the integuments of fixed staffing
ratios that limited the expansion of education when
teacher and student had to be in the same place at the
same time.

11. Summary
 An environment in which technology, society,
economics, politics, and theories of learning are all in
transition suggests that definitions, theories, and the
practice of distance education will continue to be
contested.