Distance education refers to education where students and instructors are separated by physical distance and technology is used to connect them. It has several characteristics including the use of group activities, visual learning materials, and interactivity. However, there are also some common misconceptions such as classes being easier or less time-consuming. Issues for instructors include providing constant feedback, familiarity with technology, and rethinking pedagogical practices. For students, issues involve lack of interaction, motivation, and student-teacher bonding. Trends in distance education include increasing enrollment, personalized learning, gamification, and mobile learning.