Distance education is a teaching method based on the use of modern information and telecommunication technologies that allow for distance learning without direct contact between the teacher and the student. The history of distance learning dates back to 1979, when China began to use television and radio communications to contact teachers and students. Technologies have advanced far, and today the opportunity to receive a full-fledged education through the Internet and computer online is available.
History of distance learning
The end of the 18th century is considered the beginning of the history of education at a distance. In Europe at that time the term "correspondent education" appeared, coined by Isaac Pitman, a teacher of shorthand in the UK. Students talked with teachers, received training materials and passed exams, resorting to postal service.
Pitman was a man of democratic views and was of the opinion that higher education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their religious preferences, nationality and financial condition. His worldview was adopted by the American writer Anna Tiknor, who created a distance learning system for women in the 70s of the XIX century. The original correspondent study program, developed by Rainey Harper from Illinois, USA, was equally popular.
Soon, educational institutions became interested in distance education methods, and in 1892 the first faculty of distance learning opened at the University of Chicago.
Remote Education in the 20th Century
Until the beginning of the 20th century, mail was the only means of communication used in distance learning. The development of technology and the advent of telegraph, radio and telephone, and subsequently television, led to the fact that in the 50s there were educational programs that did not imply feedback.
The establishment of the world's first open university in the UK in 1969 was a resonant event, thanks to which the distance education methodology made a huge step forward. The creators of a progressive educational institution for their century tried to make education accessible to everyone both in terms of cost and in terms of the absence of the need to attend classes.
The era of personal computers, which began in the late 1980s, took the first step toward automating education: game programs began to be developed to study various subjects. The next stage was the projects created jointly by different countries. One of them, for example, was "School email" (USSR - USA).
Facts and Figures
In the history of distance education, the main milestones are:
- 1906 - The beginning of postal education at the University of Wisconsin, USA.
- 1911 - Courses were created on the basis of the University of Queensland in Brisbane.
- 1914 - Appearance of correspondent education in elementary school in New Zealand, Canada and Australia.
- 1939 - The opening of a center for children's education in France.
- By 1960, there were 11 "open" universities in the USSR.
- 1969 - Opening of Open University in the UK.
- 1979 - launch of educational television and radio programs at Chinese universities.
Distinctive features are characteristic of home education of the XX century, among which it is worth highlighting:
- the opportunity to study at all available levels - from elementary to university;
- A wide list of subjects for study;
- various training methods - correspondence, television, open exams.
The first educational institutions working on distance education methods were guided by concepts:
- Training for students of various ages.
- Self-education.
- Students take an active part in the formation of the curriculum.
- Individual training.
- Attracting professional educators to the programs.
- Open and free access to information.
- Innovative methods for assessing the achievements and activities of students.
Correspondence form of education was the main one in distance education and included trips of students to the session. For a couple of weeks, students were taught a summary of the programs and provided materials for independent study. Students came to the school twice a year to take tests and exams.
Distance education in Russia
Distance learning in Russia involves several levels:
- School. Secondary education in Russia can be obtained in three ways: online classes, coupled with classic lessons at school; classes with a teacher in specialized cyber classes; self-education without outside control. Such methods of distance learning are available not only to schoolchildren, but also to adults who have not received a certificate of secondary education for various reasons; persons residing abroad and in places of detention.
- The average professional. The list of specialties available for distance learning is quite limited. For the most part, it includes professions from the fields of economics, accounting, management, computer and information systems, hotel business and pedagogy. Distance education in Russia implies the presence of a student in the defense of the thesis and in state exams.
- Higher. The list of faculties with distance learning in higher education institutions is much wider, due to the rich material and technical base of universities and institutes, which allows for laboratory work, lectures and online seminars. The student also undertakes to personally attend the passing of state exams and the defense of the diploma.
- Additional. Distance courses in various fields have been quite popular lately. Among them - retraining, advanced training, deepening knowledge and others.
Learning process
A student in the distance education program in Russia must have:
- Availability of access to high speed internet.
- Ability to work with graphic and text editors.
- Email inbox.
- Communication programs that support video communication - for example, Skype.
- Webcam.
To receive distance education in Russian universities, you must go through the admission procedure. If you plan to attend free courses, then just study the information and fill out an application.
Some educational resources do not even require registration, but graduates do not receive any graduation documents.
Admission to a paid distance learning course includes an interview phase. Classes can begin either on time or throughout the year as groups are recruited.
Some higher education institutions require students entering the distance learning faculties to provide the following documents to the selection committee:
- original and photocopy of passport;
- documents on existing education - diploma of technical school or college, certificate of secondary education;
- photos;
- application form and application.
Requirements for the provided package of documents may vary depending on the specific institution of higher education. Full and reliable information is published on the websites of universities, as well as questionnaires for admission.
After accepting the applicant, a letter and a receipt for payment will be sent to his email address.
Teaching methods
How is the educational process built if students choose not distance learning or full-time (with the goal of higher education), but distance learning? In Russia, as in many other countries of the world, various methods are used to provide educational material and control knowledge. The main ones will briefly dwell on.
Lectures
The supply of educational material is carried out in the form of printed texts or electronic, audio and video files. All information is studied independently. At the end of each lecture, a list of questions and tasks is published, the correct answers to which open access to the next lecture block.
Many distance education systems in Russia include video conferencing - real-time lectures, during which teachers read the material and discuss it with students.
Workshops
An integral part of distance learning at any level is the holding of seminars. The process of preparing for them includes the study of a given topic and select information. Online conversations between the teacher and students are more productive, since an Internet connection provides communication with all participants at once.
Independent work
The central role in distance education in Russia is given to independent learning. Students study the materials sent, perform practical and laboratory work, pass tests and knowledge sections, find information in preparation for seminars and lectures. Proper provision of the necessary information, according to the methodologists, assigns 2/3 of the load to independent work of students.
Scientific research
Writing an abstract or term paper requires the student to search for the necessary material and its in-depth analysis. Students receiving higher education in Russia through distance education consult with a teacher or curator via the Internet. Some distance programs include face-to-face meetings, during which you can get answers to questions and clarify obscure points in the materials received.
Duration of distance learning
It is believed that education through the Internet can be obtained in a short time. In fact, training can last as long as with distance learning: getting a second higher education can take 1-3 years.
An external student (through distance learning) can receive higher education at state universities in Russia without leaving for the holidays, which are provided to students on a stationary basis.
Knowledge control
All exams, tests, practical and laboratory work are taken online: the student gives answers to the teacher's questions in real time during the conference via Skype or similar programs. Test assignments are sometimes emailed to students. The time allotted for their solution and sending responses is strictly limited.
The protection of the diploma and the passing of state exams are carried out only with the personal presence of the student.
The benefits of distance learning
Remote education at higher educational institutions of Russia has become popular not so long ago due to its advantages:
- Duration of training is set independently by the student.
- The basis of study is an individual approach that takes into account not only the student’s life situations, but also his intellectual abilities.
- The time of meetings and their duration are selected based on the wishes of the student.
- The availability of all types of distance learning.
- The opportunity to get a diploma of any university, regardless of its location.
- Higher education in a particular specialty can be obtained by everyone regardless of social status, financial well-being and health status.
The advantages of distance higher education in Russia also include the opportunity to study and use Internet technologies.
disadvantages
Despite all the advantages, there are still disadvantages in the remote method of obtaining education:
- The need for the purchase of machinery and special equipment.
- Lack of communication with classmates and teachers, affecting the emotional component.
- Lack of practice.
- The impossibility of obtaining education in certain areas - for example, distance medical education in Russia is not available.
- Limitation in the oral presentation of thoughts.
- The problem with the completeness and literacy of compiling lecture materials.
The emergence and development of distance education in Russia made it possible for all people to receive secondary specialized or higher education remotely without reference to a specific region. The distance format is ideal for a second or additional education.