1- What is distance education? 2- What are the advantages and disadvantages of distance education? 3- How can you evaluate your student in Distance Education? 4- What are the criteria to evaluate in Distance Education?

1. What is distance education?
Defining open learning, flexible learning, online/virtual learning
and distance education.
Although the four terms are often used to mean the same thing, there
are significant differences.
Distance education on the other hand is less a philosophy and more a
method of education. Students can study in their own time, at the place
of their choice (home, work or learning centre), and without face-to-face
contact with a teacher. Technology is a critical element of distance
education.
What are the advantages and disadvantages
of distance education?
Advantages
1. Provides for an increase in Access to education for those who otherwise have no other
opportunities due to work, family or physical limitations.
2. Provides for a modality of instruction better suited for certain learners.
3. Greater flexibility for scheduling learning-Students can determine time and place of
"classtime" .
4. Greater flexibility in location for study-Students can engage course at home or work or on
campus or at a library.
5. Distance Education is Learner Centered -DE places responsibility for learning with the
learner who must be more active and self directed.
6. Facilitates greater learner-instructor interaction.
7. Increased interaction with classmates.
8. Facilitates Pedagogic Development-Individual Instructor Development.
9. Produces a carry over effect into the regular classroom of imporved pedagogic
techniques.
Disadvantages
1.Time and frustration involved learning how to get on-line for novices.

2. 2.Lag time between student input and feedback -Time lapse between need for learner
support and resolution .
3.Occasional internet provider downtime .
4.Student must be more active and self-directed in learning environment -Depends on
individual motivation and initiative .
5.Occasional feelings of isolation- Potentially less group support for learners leading to
isolation and possible non-completion of program .
6.Instructional design for group activities and group interaction more demanding on the
instructor .
7.Demands large effort and cost to develop appropriate materials .
8.Demands large effort to create and maintain the technological infrastructure .
9.Distance Education is not for everyone.- It is not for undisciplined learners nor inflexible
instructors.
How can you evaluate your student in
Distance Education?
While students enrolling in traditional on-site programs have lots of information at
hand to help them choose, those enrolling in distance education programs often find
much less. In addition they must consider factors unique to distance methods. Some
of the most important points that need to be investigated involve practical logistics for
someone enrolling internationally as well as to what extent the degree earned will be
useful and widely accepted. As with any program, quality, services, and fit with your
needs also should be examined.

3. What are the criteria to evaluate in Distance
Education?
Instructional criteria: interactivity, integrative capacity, learner control,
learner/instructor attitudes, and learner achievement 3) Organizational
criteria: technical maintenance, space and time feasibility, support
systems availability, staff development,and community partnerships 4)
Ethical criteria: technologyaccess (Hawkes, 1996)Techniques available
to evaluate virtual courses include observations,interview, focus groups,
case studies,documentreview, use of logs/journals, surveys, the use of
expert reviews, standardized tests, and experiments.( Hawkes, 1996)
Unfortunately, in the race to get new programs online, these techniques
have not generally been employed."