What is the distance in distance education?

• Non-distant education requires teacher and learner to be in the same place: location-dependent, synchronous dialogue and dialectic

• The lecture and its changing form: location-dependent, synchronous speech

• Asynchronous location-independent telepresence via video recording attempts to preserve lecture

• Synchronous location-independent telepresence via video hookup attempts to preserve lecture and (sometimes) discussion.

• Manuscripts offer asynchronous slightly location-independent transmission

• Printed books offer asynchronous location-independent transmission of information to a virtual audience.

• Digital text creates
  • asynchronisity
  • larger virtual audience
  • modularity
  • collaboration
  • dynamic, open-ended text
  • simulation
  • cybertext (text custom generated)

Last updated: October 2000