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What is distance
learning ?
The latest study conducted by the IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open
University) has thrown light on the fact that Long-distance Learning or
Distance Education has come of its age. Due to rise in need of higher
education and evolution of communication technology, it has become a
household name.
Long Distance learning is an education process wherein students are
supplied the course material at their homes from the respective
University. They need not be physically present at the Education centre
for lectures, though sometimes weekly or monthly sessions are held but
these, again, are not compulsory. For students staying far from the
educational institute of their interest and who cannot physically
partake the courses offered due to various reasons, long-distance
learning is a boon.
The roots of long – distance learning can be traced to correspondence
courses. Here the study material i.e. books, notes, curriculum etc. was
supplied via post or courier. In today’s ICE age (Information,
Communication and Technology), education has adopted the fast pace to
keep abreast of changing times. Today the technological advancements
have changed the face of Distance learning in terms of convenience,
speed, costs etc. E.g. E-learning are a rage nowadays, so much so that a
University in the US has introduced ‘physical training’ online. Its an
ironical example, but depicts the extent of adaptation of this trend.
Submissions, exams, curriculum, lecture notes etc. can be shares via
e-mail and on the Internet.
To overcome the handicap of ‘no classroom learning’, technology has
discovered the concept of ‘Video-conferencing’. It’s a technique wherein
the student has to visit a local base that supplies the facility, logon
to the website at that particular time allotted and directly ‘attend’
the classroom where the professor is lecturing live. E.g. Reliance
web-world offers video-conferencing facility in India.
In a media-dark and illiterate land like India, education is a crucial
need, but lack of infrastructure is or rather was a huge problem. Today,
with the onset of satellites, President Dr. Abdul Kalam launched EduSat
– the unique education satellite that can access the remotest of
hinterlands. In this way, quality education and information
dissemination can be made possible to the inaccessible parts of Rural
India by connecting them to the urban education institutes via the
Satellite.
Why do people resort to long-distance learning?
The economic scenario of the world and individual nations, especially
developing countries, are rapidly changing. Competition is at its edge
and one must be fit enough to stay in the race for good opportunities.
Additional degrees or certificates are always an asset and render an
edge over others. Thus, those who already have full-fledged careers but
want to study for an additional qualification cannot suspend work for
study. Either they are sole-earning members or their job profile does
not allow them to. Thus they resort to this system of education to save
time as well as cost.
Similarly, married or working women, students who are already pursuing a
full-time course etc. are good examples of participants of distance
learning programmes.
Various Distance Learning Programmes
Universities offering a variety of Distance learning programmes are
known as ‘open Universities’. The Indira Gandhi National Open University
or more popularly known as IGNOU is one such example. Courses in a
plethora of field are made available such as Management (MBA), Home
Science, Writing, Journalism, Tourism, Education, Woman and Youth
development, Forest Management, Environment Studies and many more on
various levels viz. Doctoral, Masters, Bachelors, Certificate and so on.
In a nutshell, Long Distance Learning is fast gaining recognition and
credibility. Students residing in their country can gain access to
higher education offered by Universities abroad and in the process build
invisible bridges making the world a smaller and better place to live
in. ~ Author M. Hemdev
 2005
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