Role and Importance of Distance Education in the Present Scenario

By Dr. Smita Choudhary

smitabrijendra@yahoo.co.in

smitachoudhary24@gmail.com

Abstract

Distance education has provided handful of opportunities for working professionals, students

and even housewives to achieve their dreams of pursuing higher education. Different people

have different perceptions regarding distance education. Distance education was earlier

perceived to be similar to correspondence education. But with their good experiences while

pursuing higher education in distance education mode, students have now clearly understood

the dividing line between distance education and correspondence learning. Distance education

and its importance are clearly understood by people living in metropolitan cities. This can be

gauged by the number of students pursuing distance education in metropolitan cities. But in

small towns and cities there is less awareness regarding distance education. So in small towns

and cities efforts have to be made to make people believe that a distance education degree is at

par with a regular degree. People in small towns and cities still consider a regular degree

superior to distance education degree. Distance learning has provided an excellent platform to

students for learning at their own convenience and at their own pace. In this rapidly changing

system of learning, if you are working and need a good degree as well as specialized

knowledge to enhance your career then Distance Education can be your cup of tea.

Introduction

Importance of distance education lies in the

importance of education in life. Education is

immensely important for every individual for

proper grooming and mushrooming. Words of

Swamy Vivekananda in this context are very

relevant indeed. He said, “Education is the

manifestation of knowledge already within”.

He compared a child with a plant. To grow

up properly a plant requires suitable

atmosphere alike a child. But in our country

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most of the children are bereft of the desired

suitable environment. As a corollary, their

growing is not impeded but hardly reached

the coveted level. The desire of the individual

remains mostly unfulfilled.

Distance education provides the opportunity to

exchange the cultural and regional heritage as

persons from different cultural and language

areas  get admission together into various

courses. Since, by and large the candidates

join such courses at their matured stage; they

exploit this opportunity positively to eliminate

the wrong views towards the culture of others,

which is an essential aim of modern

curriculum of education.     

Distance education has proved to be a blessing

for many aspirants seeking to upgrade their

educational qualification for achieving higher

education, career enhancement or just for the

sake of updation of knowledge. While distance

education has by and large benefitted working

professionals but now students and even

housewives are not far behind. Distance

education gives immense satisfaction to

students because they feel that they are able to

study without having to compromise with their

job or family life. Had the concept of distance

education not come into existence, lakhs of

students who wished to pursue higher

education would have been rendered

educationless. This would have shattered their

dreams of achieving education despite facing

constraints like full time job, family life,

financial limitations and many more.

So, in my opinion distance education is a

concept worth getting a lot of importance

today and even more in the coming future. The

scope of distance education is very bright in

the future.

Review of Literature

Background

Distance education is also called distance

learning, e-learning or online learning. Unlike

conventional classroom learning, it is not

bounded by space and time. In fact, teachers

and students are commonly separated by space

and time, although they may choose to interact

synchronously or meet periodically over the

length of the course. Distance learning also

needs to use technology. In the early days of

distance education, radio and television were

the media used to conduct educational

activities. Currently, the methods have

extended to the internet, email, software,

video, tapes, cameras, etc. In comparison,

instructors and students may choose to use

technology in a conventional classroom

teaching but is optional.

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Besides fostering common educational

practices in conventional classrooms, distance

education is portrayed as possessing more

potential and thus more promise in promoting

student interactions and enhancing learning

outcomes by utilizing advanced computer

technology. For example, Bruce et al. (2005)1

suggest the web has the ability to provide

student interactions and multiple paths for

learning. Learners can have greater control

over information access, individualized pacing

and timing and with more support in the

inquiry process. Lebaron and Miller (2005)2

advocate the vast possibilities offered by

effective online design: entry to a global range

of resources, 24/7 interaction within a

purposeful learning community, convenience

of access, and opportunities for reflective

dialogue.

However, because of the limited opportunities

for face-to-face interactions between an

instructor and their students, distance

education has brought many new challenges to

the teaching and learning process. Wang and

Newlin (2000)3 point out that little is known

about the characteristics of students in distance

education courses. As a result, effective

curriculum design is hindered by the lack of

understanding of the characteristics, attitudes,

and needs of the students in these courses

(Smith, 1997). At the same time, the faculty

needs to develop skills in helping students

adjust to the unique features of distance

education. However, the lack of adequate

training may prevent them from fully

participating in the distance education

practices (Galusha, 1998)4, especially

considering that they have to spend twice as

much time in preparing and delivering an

online course as compared to a traditional

course (Willis, 1994)5. With all of the

challenges facing distance education, studies

show that distance learning students desire

content and motivational support beyond

course materials and are limited in their

success without it (Williams, 2006)6.

Researchers have long pointed out the

importance of student interactions in the

teaching and learning process. Vygotsky

(1978)7 states collaborative learning is

necessary in building one’s own cognitive

process. Among group members, if they

cannot share their knowledge effectively, it

can lead to poor learning outcomes (Soller,

2004)8. To test the difference of collaborative

learning and individual learning, Ellis et al.

(1994) compares the problem-solving results

between fifth graders who worked with a

partner and those who worked alone. The

result shows that 75% of the paired students

solved the problem with new mathematical

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rules while only 32% of the students working

individually came up with a solution.

Benefits and Beneficiaries of Distance

Education

Advantages of Distance Education

Distance education is a mode of education that

by and large occurs in a different location from

teaching. It provides student with one more

chance to gain college education. It can be

helpful for those who suffer from constraints

like limited time, distance or physical

disability.

Distance mode of Education also helps

to update the knowledge base of

working professionals. So for the

success of distance education, new

techniques of course design, new

techniques of instruction and fast and

latest methods of communication are

used. It also requires excellent

managerial and administrative

planning. In this mode students are

provided with study material. Even

classes are organized almost on a

regular basis although it is optional for

students to attend these classes. The

rapidly growing population is causing a

scarcity of infrastructure, financial, and

personnel resources. Distance

education comes out as a solution to

these constraints and helps a large

number of students to fulfill their

educational dreams. But among the

various methods of education this

mode has the best chance to control our

national problem of illiteracy. Getting

education through distance learning is

economical as compared to regular

education and less time consuming as

well. Distance Education mode opens

the way to make use of latest

technology for education. Students can

decide their place and time of learning

in this mode of education.

Distance Learning - What Are the

Benefits of Distance Learning?

Besides student segment, distance

learning is also gaining popularity

among adults who are eager to upgrade

themselves for better career

opportunities. Distance learning

provides an alternative method for

people to improve their education

without undergoing traditional

classroom learning.

Nowadays, more adults are becoming

interested to pursue higher education

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so that they can compete more

effectively in the job market. In

response to this growing interest in

higher education among the adult

segment, education providers are

creating new courses using new

technologies to meet the demand.

Many distance learning online courses

are developed to meet this increasing

need.

In today’s competitive scenario, an

increasing number of the corporate

companies are requiring efficient,

hardworking people with influential

personalities who are eligible and

well equipped of managing their

resources. That’s why MBA education

has gained popularity in recent years

and in the past too in India and abroad

as well. The global companies are also

investing across the world. These

companies have established large

offices in different parts of the world

no one can manage these offices better

than MBAs who have some experience

in their respective areas.

Distance learning has several benefits

that are absent in classroom education.

One of the benefits is that a learner can

learn at his or her own pace. In

classroom learning, the faster learners

have to wait for the slower learners to

catch up with the lesson before the

teacher can move on to the next topic.

They have to slow down their pace for

the benefit of the slower learners. With

distance learning, this huge problem

can be solved very effectively.

Moreover, in classroom learning, a

learner has just one chance to learn a

lesson. But, with distance learning, the

learner can again play a portion of the

audio tape or video, or read again the

notes for a particular module as many

number of times as he would like.

Class room learning is very rigid in the

sense that each lesson of the course is

given an emphasis and amount of time

that the teacher considers necessary.

But in distance education, students

have the flexibility to spend the amount

of time they choose for each module.

Distance learning provides any time -

anywhere access to education. There

are no restrictions on their study time

and location. Students can easily learn

while keeping with their family and

work life. They do not need to adjust

their family and work commitments to

attend fixed class schedules. It also

helps in saving travel time and travel

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costs. They can spend the saved time

and money on other areas.

We can conclude from the above that

distance learning has lots of

advantages. It provides a great

opportunity for people to acquire

higher education for their career

advancement. If you are interested in

taking up a course to upgrade yourself,

you can very well think of a distance

learning course.

Who can be benefited from DE?

Distance learning can be highly beneficial

to a large range of people which starts

from students who want to increase their

prospects to adults looking for more job

security. Distance learning has programs

that cater to the needs of learners of all

ages to take courses for fun, personal

advancement and degrees, In all distance

learning can meet the needs of a diverse

population. Perhaps one of the most

prominent advantages of distance learning

is the flexibility. The programs allow

students to learn as per their convenience.

For those who are not able to find a

balance between their learning goals, full-

time job and taking care of a family,

distance education is the answer for them.

It also helps in savings on the fuel costs

and time required to commute to classes.

Distance learning also provides job

security and career advancement for

professionals. With unemployment on the

rise and competitiveness for jobs high,

having additional training and education

can be an added advantage whether

looking for a new job or simply aiming for

a promotion. The potential for salary

increases with additional training that a

distance learning program provides.

Distance learning training can help you

earn everything from simple certifications

to a full MBA. Distance learning programs

are generally very flexible and can be

completed during free time. Students will

be able to continue with their current jobs

while working towards their ultimate

professional goals, and some students may

even be able to get reimbursed from their

employers for their distance learning

training.

Distance learning is a boon to those

living in small or remote communities.

With few local options for education, it

can be very difficult to find schools

that offer the programs and degrees

you want with the professional

faculties. Distance learning solves this

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problem and allows students anywhere

in the world to choose from a wide

range of educational facilities.

Distance learning program provides

most benefits to students who work

well independently and who are

strongly motivated to succeed in their

goals. As students are not in a

classroom and will not be closely

monitored by the instructor, reading,

projects and other assignments must be

completed in a timely fashion.

Why Distance education is

Suitable?

Distance education is suitable for any

student who is not able to attend on-

campus programs for some or the other

reasons and wishes to pursue their

further studies.

This mode of education is highly

suitable for economically weaker

students, busy professionals and

housewives too who can pursue the

distance education program for

acquiring necessary skills at

comparatively lower cost.

Many people choose this learning

mode of study just because it provides

high degree of flexibility and freedom.

Some opt for these types of learning

courses because they are working full-

time and could not afford to lose their

jobs. They are in such a situation that

they need their income for their own as

well as their family's expenses, and

leaving their jobs would bring about

financial problems. They have to find a

way to make a fine balance between

learning, family and job demands.

Some people take up distance learning

courses because they live far away

from the place of education and

attending classes is inconvenient. For

some, this problem arises because the

program they want to study is not

offered by a nearby school and they

have to choose a school far away from

their residence. Some people find

attending classes difficult due to their

family commitments. These people

may have elders or kids at home to

look after and are not able to attend

classes. Distance learning is an

excellent solution to their problem.

Studying through distance learning can

enable them to look after their family

while they can continue with their

study.

Distance learning is also a solution for

people who are keen to do a certain

course but feel shy in joining a class.

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Hence, they choose to do distance

learning courses because these courses

do not require them to attend classes.

Essentials of Distance Education

1. Printed course material is the backbone

of distance education. It must be

prepared and compiled by excellent

academicians. It should be updated

from time to time and new matter

should be included at regular intervals

of time. The language should be as

easy and simple as possible as students

prefer easy language. The course

contents should essentially be

presented in the form of charts graphs

and tables so that the students can

understand the contents even without a

guide. The printing mistakes in study

material must especially be taken care

of. The study material should be free

from printing errors as far as possible.

The learning material should be so

comprehensive that the student need

not refer to other books to understand

the subject.

2. The study centres play a crucial role in

the success of a distance education

programme. The centre should be

responsible enough to update students

from time to time and give their best

services to students. It is the quality of

service that separates a good learning

centre from the ones that are not so

good. The centres should organize

Personal Contact Programmes for

students where individual attention is

provided to each and every student.

3. Academic counselors are the pillars on

which lie the success of any

educational institution whether

providing education in regular mode or

distance mode. This is more so

important in distance learning where

students tend to skip classes. The

Academic counselors should be

knowledgeable, skilled and talented.

This will boost the student’s

confidence level, helps in their overall

grooming and will to a great extent

help in improving the results of

examinations.

4. The study centres must have a library

that provides access to latest

management books and journals.

Conclusions

1. Quality of study material has to be

improved from time to time. New statistics

should replace old statistics.

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2. There should be frequent interaction

with students so that they do not get

out of touch.

3. The administrative queries of the

students should be handled and solved

very fast so that they remain satisfied.

4. There should be a deep focus on case

studies as they help to gain practical

knowledge and that is all that matters

when it comes to professional life.

5. The focus should not just be on

achieving the degree but subject

knowledge is of utmost importance

6. The examination system should be

very fair. There should be no

malpractices so that the students can

better concentrate on their study.

7. However a new welcome trend has

emerged with the advancement of

technology. Top most distance

education institutions like SMU DE are

using premium technology like EduNxt

and setting up state-of-the-art

technology. Thanks to programs like

that concepts like e-learning and virtual

classrooms are gaining acceptability

across the country. So Distance

Education will no more be a poor

cousin of Regular Campus. It will

stand by regular campus with great

pride.

References

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1 Bruce, B., Dowd, H., Eastburn, D., & D’Arcy, C. (2005). Plants, pathogens, and people: Extending the classroom to the web. Teachers college record, 107, 8, 1730-1753.

2 Lebaron, J., & Miller, D. (2005). The potential of jigsaw role playing to promote the social construction of knowledge in an online graduate education course. Teachers college record, 107, 8, 1652-1674.

3 Wang, A. & Newlin, M. (2000). Characteristics of students who enroll and succeed in psychology web-based classes. Journal of educational psychology, 92,1, 137-143.

4 Galusha, J. (1998). Barriers to learning in distance education. Retrieved September 20th., 2006, from http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/ERIC/bibs/disted.htm

5 Willis, B. (1994). Distance education: Strategies and tools. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology.

6 Williams, P. (2006). On-demand tutoring in distance education: Intrinsically-motivated, scalable interpersonal interaction to improve achievement, completion, and satisfaction. Dissertation abstracts international section A: Humanities and social sciences, 66, 11-A, 3933.

7 Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in society: the development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA.

8 Soller, A. (2004). Understanding knowledge-sharing breakdowns: a meeting of the quantitative and qualitative minds. Journal of computer assisted learning, 20, 212-223.