Online and Distance Learning

Innovations in ICT and the possibilities opened up by teaching online, are enabling exciting classroom activities to be developed at all levels of children's education (elementary to grade 12). They have also enabled a revolution in the delivery of distance education in universities and colleges. This page provides more details.

With the social appropriation of computers, the creation of the Internet, the advent of Web 2.0 and the Semantic Web, the range of technologies available to the user is bewildering. Children in the US and Canada are being brought up surrounded by these Internet technologies, and using them is as natural to them as using a spoon. These users are called "Generation Y".

So what happens when these Generation Y children get into school? They probably expect their learning to be delivered using the same technologies that they use everyday. This is one important reason for teachers to learn more about online education. But there are other, pedagogical reasons, for learning about it. It is important for teachers to consider all modalities and technologies for learning and use the most appropriate ones for the subject matter and the particular learners. This is especially true in those all-important areas of math (especially middle school math), reading comprehension and writing.

Teaching online in universities and colleges

The new computer and Internet technologies are also revolutionising educational programs at university and college level. In university and college courses, it is now possible for course content, seminars, discussions and other approaches to learning to be delivered electronically.

These information and communication technologies enable distance courses to be delivered using innovative ways to interact with instructors and other students. They have raised the status of distance education and now whole universities have been created that conduct all their education online.

Many traditional campus-based universities now also offer programs online - either totally or partially.  Some insist that all students should experience learning online.

Internet technologies for teaching

The following are just a few of the technologies in use for teaching:

• Electronic Portfolios (ePortfolios)
• MP3 Players
• Web sites
• Web 2.0 online tools
• Discussion and bulletin boards
• e-mail
• Social Media (Blogs, Chats, Wikis, Podcasts, etc) 
• Social Networking
• Educational animation, simulation, and games
• Learning Management Systems (LMS)
• Infographics for Learning

Distance education for teacher training - a free resource

The free e-book "Distance Education for Teacher Training: Modes, Models, and Methods" builds on EDC’s extensive international and domestic experience in the field of distance education and gathers research and lessons learned from numerous programs in over 100 nations and territories to help distance education policymakers, planners and designers develop distance education systems focused on producing high-quality teachers.

The book focuses on the following areas:

• Modes of distance education - types of distance-based delivery systems and their strengths and weaknesses from print to digital gaming to online learning to mobile technologies;
• Models of distance education for teacher training programs;
• Methods or best practices necessary to develop a high-quality distance education program.

"Distance Education for Teacher Training: Modes, Models, and Methods" has over 200 web references to existing programs and technology tools; an annotated reference section of distance-based resources; and an extensive glossary of terms and bibliography.  It is a valuable resource for those interested in not just distance education but technology and professional development.

Download a free PDF copy now: Distance Education for Teacher Training: Modes, Models, and Methods

For more information

Download the free Online Learning Theory and Practice eBook.

Looking for a course to progress your career in online education?

Search for programs about teaching online.