Reflections on distance learning

Summary form only given. We discuss formal programs leading to a certification or establishment of qualifications for an individual student. The paper starts with a historical perspective and addresses the following questions: What lessons have we learned before the 1990s that could be applied to current efforts in distance education? What current lessons have we learned that should be applied to current efforts in distance education? The paper reviews some of the nearly 2000 years of systems distance education, particularly emphasizing the past century of formal efforts outside the universities. Groups of "perpetual learners", typically organized under such banners as "mechanics institutes", were common at the turn of the 20th Century. They relied on the latest technologies in publishing and correspondence, as well as off-campus lectures, to keep abreast of changing technology. Many of their spokesmen were strong advocates of the need for continuing education to meet changing job requirements, even in “blue collar” employment. Such learning groups were also common among scientific and engineering professionals employed in major high-tech companies in the 1930s and 1940s. After considering some of the lessons learned in the past, we examine some programs implementing distance learning. Some topics covered are faculty and student attitudes toward distance learning and the economics of setting up a distance learning program. In addition, we review some of literature on distance education