Principles of Distance Education

Distance education is a mode of delivering education and instruction, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional setting such as a classroom. Distance learning provides "access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both." Distance education courses that require a physical on-site presence for any reason including taking examinations have been referred to as hybrid or blended courses of study. Massive open online courses aim at large-scale interactive participation and open access via the web or other network technologies, are a recent development in distance education. It has been described as "a process to create and provide access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance. or both. Distance Education has established its relevance and efficiency across the globe. Development of distance education is a worldwide phenomenon. It is cost effective and provides with the benefits of large-scale economy. Distance education is flexible in nature and able to cater to the needs of innumerable that could not be blessed with the education provided in conventional system of learning. Distance education can be understood as the method of imparting knowledge. skills and attitudes which is rationalized by the application of division of labour and organizational principles as well as by the extensive use of technical media specially for the purpose of reproducing high quality teaching materials which makes it possible to instruct great number of students at the same time wherever they live.