Breaking Barriers: An Intersection of the Institution and the Information Superhighway :: Essays Papers

Breaking Barriers An Intersection of the Institution and the Information SuperhighwayWhat it is all about Distance education. What is it? Barry Birnbaum has cited a executable definition for it in his book, Foundations and Practices in the Use of Distance Education. The definition is according to a study done by Moore and Kearsley in 1996. Birnbaum quotes, distance education is defined as planned learning that normally occurs in a different place and requires a well-defined system of interprety that includes modified teaching techniques, utility(a) modes for communication (i.e. computers), as well as alternative administrative and organizational components. (Birnbaum, 2001, p. 1)1 Then, again in 1996, another researcher by the name of Keegan assigned 5 criteria in his definition of distance education. These 5 criteria are a.) Separation of teacher and learner finishedout the learning process, b.) The influence of the organization in the planning and expression of learning materials, c.) The use of technical media to unite teacher and learner, d.) The role of two-way communication, and e.) The separation of the learning group during the process. (Birnbaum, 2001, p. 2)2 Bearing these two definitions in mind, let us proceed. I. How it was all started A man named Isaac Pitman started the whole concept of distance education in England around 1840.(Birnbaum, 2001, p. 10)3 He wanted to create an opportunity for state to learn shorthand that would otherwise, not be able to do so due to work constraints or other everyday obligations. According to Birnbaum, since this period of time, the prime utilization of distance education has been in the field of foreign language. However, other institutions opt to employ distance education as well. For example, the armed services defend found that technical training can be provided to a large number of military personnel in a cost-effective manner throu gh distance education course delivery modules. (Birnbaum, 2001, p. 11)4 Large corporations such as Best Buy also use e -learning in order to deliver quick, effective training to their employees in lieu of having an actual time reserved for training the employees.