Article Title :
Learning from Distance

Author Name :
Prof. Lalit Kumar

Keyword :
Distance Learning, Distance Education, Open Universities, Constructivism, Behaviorism and Cognitivism

Publisher :
Politic India Publication

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Abstract :
The concept of distance learning may not be as old as the human civilization, but its birth can be claimed from the day any body communicated to the some body from distance, either through whistle or any other mode of message sending (Sound or Symbol). Invention of word gave more defined look to distance communication and advent of print media made it possible to educate the mass even from distance. Postal service to satellite based communication tell the development history of distance education. Correspondence education took the form of distance education as the media integration crept into the sphere of distance learning. Universities providing education from distance are open, but some scholars are of the opinion that distance learning may not be open every time. Scholars applied many concepts to represent distance learning as correspondence education, independent study, home study, distance education, open education and many more. Educationists, philosophers and practioners of distance education like Wedemeyer, Moore, Peter, Holmberg, Baath, Sewart, Dohmen and many others developed the field of distance learning to the peak it is standing today. Peter focused on management aspects of distance education and emphasized on the quality learning material and its proper production. Academic aspects were focused by Wedemeyer, Moore, Holmberg and Sewqrt. Dohmen emphasized self-study and effective utilization of media Wedemeyer favoured independent study, besides independent study of Wedemeyer Moore addressed nature of communication and the degree of dialogue for effective learning, peter’s idea of industrialized nature of distance education suggested division of labour among distance education workers, Holmberg emphasized conversation essential for learning and talked of “Guided Didactic Conversation”, John Baath found distance study essentially individual study, Sewart claimed incorporation of more and more human element essential for distance learning and Dohmen recognized the use of media – print & electronic and oral face-to-face programmes for distance learning. Approaches and principles of learning have widely influenced distance learning. Distance learning has not been planned in the light of any one approach of learning, but have received insight from them all – Behaviourist, Cognitivist and Constructivist Distance education has provided an alternative channel of learning to the world, but still has to go a long way to overcome its short comings like – largely dependent upon formal system, second to formal education, poor quality of learning material, lack of inter-personal communication, application related short-comings, more involvement of poor & junior faculty members, high drop out, costly in some cases, largely dependent on print media, etc. Despite its short-comings it is a better option of learning and has really made the process of learning life long & continuous.