Distance Education Distance Learning

Objectives Definition of Distance Education Overview of Adult Education History of Distance Education Distance Education Today “The Idea and Evolution of Distance Education”

Basic Definition of Distance Education A form of Adult Education Teacher and learner are separate During the majority of the instruction.

Expanded Definition of D.E. The separation of teacher and learner during at least a majority of the instructional process The influence of an educational organization, including the provision of student evaluation

The use of educational media to unite teacher and learner and carry course content The provision of two-way communication between teacher, tutor, or educational agency and learner Expanded Definition (continued)

Adult Education vs. Adult Learning Adult Education: – teaching of adults – using an organized formal or informal plan of education – direct involvement of a teacher Adult Learning: –a continuous part of adult life – primarily skills and knowledge for personally relevant situations –without a formal educational institution or teacher

Adult Education Growing

3 Categories of Adult Education Career Education: –to prepare for vocation, profession or to upgrade job skills Adult Basic Education: – to acquire basic skills to function Leisure and Enrichment: –to enrich life or lives of others

Names in Distance Education Isacc Pitman: First Modern Distance Educator -- shorthand by correspondence, England Anna Eliot Ticknor: “Mother of American Correspondence Study,” Founder of Society to Encourage Study at Home

Names in Distance Education John Vincent: Founder of Chautauqua, an education society to expand access to education William Rainey Harper: “Father of American Correspondence Study,” President, Univ. of Chicago, founded first university-level correspondence class

Dates in Distance Education 1840 –Correspondence for shorthand - England 1873 –Society to Encourage Study at Home 1874 –Distance Ed begins at Illinois Wesleyan University 1878 –Chautauqua Movement 1892 –first printed use of term “distance education”

Dates in Distance Education University of Chicago founded university-level correspondence National University Extension Association - of college and university distance education accreditation National Home Study Council created as accrediting body for other levels

Distance Education Today Open University of United Kingdom (OOUK) a model A worldwide phenomenon - 10 million people study at a distance

Distance Education Today Adult Learning Services (ALS) telecourses sponsored by Public Broadcasting Service - 1 million people from More than 90% of distance education in US is through postsecondary institutions other than colleges

Distance Education Today 4 million students enrolled at a given time in schools accredited by the National Home Study Counci International Correspondence School : first and largest privately licensed home study proprietary school

Food for Thought Does learning through Computer Based Training when no human is invloved fit the definition of distance education?

Chapter Two Objectives Typical Adult Student Key Factors Barriers Learning Styles Design “How Distance Education Serves Adult Learners”

Typical Adult Learner Married White Female Attends school part-time Employed full-time Pays for tuition

Key Factors in Adult Learning Motivation tied to value adults place on learning Adults learn primarily for job-related reasons Adults like hands-on experience Adults are pragmatic learners who emphasize practical utility

Key Factors in Adult Learning Adults like to choose the time and place for learning Adults like to work at their own pace Adults like feedback Adults do not like to waste time

Distance Educations Barriers Dispositional: Preference for traditional classroom Situational: Cost and lack of time Institutional: Lack of support and information, red tape and prerequisites

Dimensions of Adult Learning Style Content Conditions Mode Prediction of Success

Design Considerations Learning Domains: Cognitive, Psychomotor, Affective Learning Style: Preferences Maturity: The more mature the student, the less direction needed

Food for Thought How can Distance Education be designed to accommodate individual differences in adults?