The Evolution of Distance Education: Bridging the Gap between Teacher and Students

Distance learning has been present in our educational society for numerous years, but has evolved more rapidly and attention has been focused more intently during the past two decades. The advancements in technology have allowed for distance learning to reach beyond the traditional boundaries and deliver instruction to learners in diverse locations at time that are convenient to their needs. The recent trend in the increased number of courses available via television and the Internet demonstrates the need for asynchronous learning opportunities for students. However, historical studies in the area of distance education have not always focused on student learning and outcomes, but rather compared the traditional face-to-face instruction to distance education. Areas such as educational communities, individualized learning, humanization, and teacher-student relationships are becoming the new focal point of recent studies. This paper will cover the historical view of the development of distance education and discuss the current issues surrounding course development and delivery of online and telecommunication courses