Distance education is defined as a formalized teaching and learning system specifically designed to be carried out remotely by using electronic communication. It has evolved from early uses of radio technology in the 19th century to incorporate modern technologies like mobile learning. Key features of distance education include the separation of teacher and learner, separation among learners, use of a medium like radio or internet to deliver instruction, and a communication channel to enable interaction and support for learners.

1. Distance Education
and the Internet
TECH4101
Dr. Alaa Sadik
Instructional & Learning Technologies Department
www.alaasadik.net
alaasadik@squ.edu.om

2. Lecture One (Week 2)
Defining
Distance Education
Distance Education
and the Internet
TECH4101
Interactive Presentation

3. Background:
The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century →
Developments in various fields of technology →
Offered new solutions for delivering instruction →
Learners’ interests were enhanced →
Increase in the subject areas offered by distance
education →
Became one of the formal means of education.
Defining Distance Education

4. What is distance education or
distance learning?
Defining the meaning of distance education may provide a
good starting point to recognise its elements.
Use Google to search for:
define:distance education
Defining Distance Education

5. What is distance education or
distance learning?
Use Wikipedia to find more info about
distance education and distance learning
Defining Distance Education

6. Defining Distance Education
What is distance education or
distance learning?
Discuss the definitions you found with your
team

7. Defining Distance Education
What is distance education or
distance learning?
Clarify the definitions using the information
you found in Wikipedia and other sites.

8. Defining Distance Education
What is distance education or
distance learning?
Distance education is defined as a formalized
teaching and learning system specifically
designed to be carried out remotely by using
electronic communication.

9. Defining Distance Education
Distance education or distance learning?
Distance education , because distance learning is a
part of distance education . Distance education is
like an umbrella to all kinds of electronic learning for
example e-learning and mobile learning .

10. Defining Distance Education
History of distance education and technology (old technology)
Radio is Radio has been used in different formats for educational purposes the
world round. Radio technology was first developed during the late nineteenth
century and came into popularity as an educational medium during the early
twentieth century. Although often overshadowed as educational medium other
technologies such as television, radio remains a viable medium that has proven
educational worth in terms of both pedagogical importance and geographical
reach.

11. Defining Distance Education
History of distance education and technology (modern technology):
In trying to understand how mobile technology can be appropriated for teaching and learning at a
distance, we should start by looking at how different is mobile learning from other technologies that
are used in teaching and learning (Laurillard, 2007). The strength of using mobile technologies is
that they offer learning that is intimate, spontaneous, pervasive and versatile. Mobile learning
“provides an enhanced cognitive environment in which distance learners can interact with their
instructors, their course materials, their physical and the virtual environment” (Koole, 2009, p.38).
The difference between mobile learning and other technologies is that it has the ability support
situated learning (Kukulsa-Hulme & Traxler, 2005). Mobile learning provides students with

12. Defining Distance Education
Time for
Presentation

13. Defining Distance Education
In conclusion, many key features characterize
distance education:
1. The separation of teacher and learner;
2. The separation among learners;
3. The use of one medium to deliver instruction;
and
4. The use of a communication channel to
facilitate interaction and support learners.

14. Questions & Discussions
The End