This document defines distance education, outlines its four key components, discusses theories of distance education, and provides a brief history. Distance education is defined as institution-based formal education where learners and instructors are separated but connected through interactive telecommunications. The four components are that it is institution-based, teaches separated learners, uses interactive technologies, and connects learners and instructors. Theories include those of independence, industrialization, interaction, and a synthesis. A brief history outlines early correspondence courses and the expansion of distance education through radio and television.

1. Definitions, History, and
Theories of distance Education
Angelita Brooks

2. What is Distance education
Distance education can be defines as an institution-based, formal
education where the learning group is separated, and where
interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect
learners, resources, and instructors. As the concept and practice of
teaching students has evolved beyond the traditional brick- and-
mortar classroom, the term to encapsulate this practice has also
evolved.

3. 4 Components of distance
education
 The first component states that distance education is
institutionally-based. This is what differentiates
distance education from self-study.
 The second component states that distance education is
the concept of separation of the teacher and student.
Most often, separation is thought of in geographic
terms– teachers are in one location and students in
another.

4. 4 Components of distance
education
 The third component of distance education is interactive
telecommunications. Interaction can be synchronous or
asynchronous at the same time, or at different times.
 The fourth component we examine the concept of connecting
learners, resources, and instructors. This means that there are
instructors who interact with learners and that resources are
available that permit learning to occur.

5. Theory and distance education
 Keegan’s elements shaped the definition of distance education adopted for this
book. According to Benson (2004), “Distance Education implies formal
instructionally- based educational activities where the teacher and student are
normally separated from each other in location but not normally separated in
time, and where two way interactive telecommunication systems are used for
sharing, video, data, and voice instruction In the Foundations of Distance
Education, Keegan (1966) classified theories of distance education into three
group:
 Theories of independence and autonomy
 Theories of industrialization of teaching
 Theories of interaction and communication
 The fourth category seeks to explain distance education in a synthesis existing
theories of communication and diffusion, as well philosophies of education.

6. History Of Distance Education
 The earliest record of distance education took place in 1833. A
Swedish newspaper advertised the idea of studying Composition
through the medium of the Post. A few years later in 1840, Caleb
Phillips advertised shorthand lessons through the mail in the Boston
Gazette, which was known as the correspondence course .
The history of distance education has experienced growth and change
recently, but the long traditions of the field continue to give it direction
for the future. Distance education began to enrich the secondary school
curriculum in the 1920’s. It was focused mainly for adults with
occupational, social, and family commitments.

7. History Of Distance Education
 Distance education seems a new idea to most educators
of today. However, the concepts that form the basis of
distance education are more than a century old.
Certainly, distance education has experienced growth
and change recently, but the long traditions of the field
continue to give in direction for the future.

8. Distance Education Defined from different
perspectives
 Pennsylvania State University was the first university to
teach courses over the radio, beginning in 1922. By the mid
1920’s, 200 colleges and universities were granted
broadcasting licenses furthering the expansion of distance
education. The 1930’s promoted the use of the television in
distance education. The State University of Iowa aired the
first instructional television program in 1932. Iowa, along
with two other major universities, (Kansas State University
and Purdue University) experimented with what was later
known as telecourses.

9. Distance Education Defined from different
perspectives
 Hilary Perraton, distance education is an educational
process in which a significant proportion of the
teaching is conducted by someone removed in space
and/or time from the learner.
 Desmond Keegan the following four definitions were
central to an attempt to identify the elements of a
single, unifying definition of distance education.

10. Summary
 The philosophical is the underpinnings and
theoretical foundations that influence the
implementation of distance education. It cover
initial philosophical and psychological foundations,
such as empiricism, behaviorism, and
constructivism. Then, it evaluate the influence of
more contemporary theoretical foundations, like
systems theory and communication theory, on
instructional practices as they relate to distance
education platforms.