Julie Gilbert

OMDE 601 Section 9040

Due 9/28/14
Essay 1

What is Distance Education?

The definition of distance education has evolved over time; however, it has roots in
correspondence education, and most experts seem to believe it includes the removal of face-toface interaction between teacher and student.
To me, distance education is a method in which students receive information that is
delivered through various means, either at their own pace (as in self-directed program) or at a
required pace (as in a course taken over a semester) and which culminates with an evaluation of
the students comprehension. Moore & Kearsley (2012) stated: Distance Education is teaching
and planned learning in which teaching normally occurs in a different place from learning,
requiring communication through technologies as well as special institutional organization. I
believe that Moores definition closely resembles my initial definition of distance education;
however, with todays available technology, communication can be experienced in our virtual
world bringing face-to-face interaction back into the equation.
The theories and methods of distance education vary from expert to expert. Borje
Holmerg believes that distance education incorporates empathy-creating conversation style
and Professor Otto Peters views it as an industrialized form of education, while Moore
explains it as a transactional distance theory (Bernath & Vidal, 2007) to delivering education.
So while the explanation and theory of distance education may differ among experts in the field;,
to me, the result of distance education has a common denominator in that students have the
opportunity through distance education to learn in the way that best suits their learning style.
Although I did not originally include the importance of learning styles in my definition, I believe

Julie Gilbert
OMDE 601 Section 9040
Due 9/28/14
Essay 1

after reading the thoughts and evaluations of the experts that learning style does have an impact
on the effectiveness of distance education.
Holmbergs theory about distance education centers on how information is delivered to
the learner through an empathetic teaching-learning conversation. To me this theory is
incorporated when we provide various types of educational materials to a student. Some
students are better at reading a paper, while others obtain a better understanding by watching a
video, or listening to a podcast. In some ways, we could say delivering the information in the
manner that is best understood by the individual student leads to an empathetic teaching-learning
environment.
My understanding is that Professor Peters views the process of distance education as a
development of industrialization. Today, Massive Open Online Courses could be likened to this
method of delivering education to the student in a way that best suits their needs.
Lastly, by applying Moores transactional theory to todays methods of distance
education, we can see the increased communication required of students to be successful. I see
this even in our Foundations of Distance Education and E-learning course where we are required
to post questions and actively participate in discussions with other classmates. Not only is this a
required portion of the class, but it develops individualized learning opportunities.
So although the three experts mentioned in this essay may have different definitions of
distance education as well as the method for delivering distance education, I think they all
provide a foundation in which distance education theories will continue to grow and evolve over
time.
2

Julie Gilbert
OMDE 601 Section 9040
Due 9/28/14
Essay 1

References
Bernath, U., & Vidal, M. (2007). The Theories and the Theorists: Why Theory is Important for
Research - Cairn.info. Distance et Saviors, 5(3), 427458.
Moore, M. G., & Kearsley, G. (2011). Distance Education: A Systems View of Online Learning.
Cengage Learning.