Future of distance learning
Future of distance learning
Distance learning has grown exponentially within the past ten years with over 96 percent of colleges utilizing distance learning in some fashion In the near future, distance learning is not going to decline. In fact, it will gain popularity and make education more widespread than ever before.
While considering the future of distance learning, it is essential to know about the trends effecting academics so far much of this growth is expected to take place in the community colleges. As of 1994, 80% of community colleges in the United States offered some form of distance education program, and that percentage and the extent of their involvement are expected to increase throughout the decade.
Generally, distance education is defined by Moore and Kearsley (1996) as “the planned learning that normally occurs in a different place from teaching and as a result requires special techniques of course design, special instructional techniques, and special methods of communication by electronic and other technology, as well as special organization and administrative agreements”.