1. Wikipedia's Definition of Distance Education
2. My Personal Definition of Distance Learning
3. My Revised Definition
4. My Perspective on the Future of Distance Learning
5. Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom. It has been described as "a process to create and provide access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both."[1] Distance education courses that require a physical on-site presence for any reason (including taking examinations) have been referred to as hybrid[2] or blended[3] courses of study.
6. Distance learning is ascertaining an education at a distance and from afar utilizing technological tools, in a very non-traditional format. Distance learning is done from the convenience of my own personal space during a time of day that has been set aside to focus on the course work and requirements for that course at that time. Unlike traditional education that takes place at the same time in the same place. Distance learning requires a great deal of self-management and discipline in order to meet the requirements and to handle the work load of any particular course.
7. An ever-changing and diverse approach to offering education, professional courses and training to a variety of learners in a non-traditional format. Distance learning through the advances of technology and improvements around instruction and the delivery of instruction in a convenient and more cost efficient manner - be it either synchronous or asynchronous mode and format.
8. Although the future of distance learning remains to be seen with the changes and advances in technology, it is almost impossible to predict how just where things are going. I would imagine though that as the success rate for distance learning is proven, especially the numbers that supports and explains the cost effectiveness of it the potential of attracting more people and new students will only increase. According to Dr. Michael Simonson (2012), although the expected growth of distance learning has been exponential and has been widely adopted and accepted as an innovation, along the same paradigm as the computer, growth will be significant, but not in a revolutionary way. Education in the traditional sense, the brick and mortar building like universities and college campuses will never be replaced by distance learning, therefore while growth will be significant, but not in a revolutionary way.