Education is all about providing knowledge to the society or individual on single or multiple topics. Education can be provided anywhere. Students can be educated in classrooms or even at home. Now education at home need not only mean parents teaching the children or the tuition teachers doing the same. The distance learning education system has enabled students across the sphere to take up certified degree courses by sitting comfortably at home and learning through the sites provided by that particular institute.
Apart from schools and colleges, distance education plays a major role in imparting education to those students who cannot afford to either travel to that corner of the world or have some other limitations. In our modern society, when students are either eager or forced to earn at an early age, distance education offers them the benefit of learning while earning.
Distance learning education, has been described as that one process of imparting knowledge when the learners and the source of information (institute) are separated by time and distance or both. In other words, this system helps to bridge the gap between the students and the institutes. Here communication takes place over a variety of channels including the print media, electronic, real time technology, etc. Various types of technologies are involved in distance education and can be divided into two groups – synchronous and asynchronous.
Synchronous technology refers to the mode of delivery wherein all the participants or the beneficiaries are present at the same time; this means that students form all over the world receive education on particular subject at the same time. This type of technology involves video conferencing, web conferencing, internet radio, live streaming, telephone and web based VoIP as modes of transferring education.
The asynchronous is that mode of delivery that has no time restrictions or the learners. This has the courses online and the participants can have access to the courses at their own will. This does not enforce any time boundaries on the participants. The asynchronous mode of delivery includes message board, e-mail, video or audio recordings, print materials, voice mail and fax for imparting education.
This system of education has proven to be a boon for all those who wanted to learn and unfortunately could not due to various reasons. It has brought smile to many faces that had to leave their education mid way for earning…. Distance education provides quality teaching and promises the world to give better and learned citizens for tomorrow.
