distance learning

Distance education is a method of teaching in which the students are not required to be physically present at a specific location during the term. Instead, teachers and students communicate by exchanging printed or electronic media, or through technology that allows them to communicate in real time.Most often, regular mail is used to send written material, videos, audiotapes, and CD-ROMs to the student and to turn in the exercises. E-mail, the World Wide WebWeb, and video conferencing over broadband network connections are used as well. With advances in technology and online distribution, it is even possible to provide distance education students with powerful forms of learning support such as educational animation. Full time or part-time study is possible, but most students choose part-time study. Research study is possible as well. Often students are required to come to meetings at regional offices on specific weekends, for example to take exams. Distance education is offered at all levels, but is most frequently an option for university-level studies. A form of educational program which is similar to this but which requires some amount of presence during the year is a low-residency program.Distance education programs are sometimes called correspondence courses, an older term that originated in nineteenth-century vocational education programs that were conducted through postal mail. This term has been largely replaced by ''distance education'', and expanded to encompass more sophisticated technologies. The first subject taught by correspondence was the Pitman Shorthand, a tool of stenography. Primary educationPrimary and secondary education programs were also widely available by correspondence, usually for children living in remote areas.One of the oldest distance education universities is the University of South Africa, which has been offering DE courses since 1946. The largest distance education university in the United Kingdom UK is the ''Open University'' founded 1969. In Germany the FernUniversität in Hagen was founded 1974. All three are now mega universitymega universities. In 1999 the European Graduate School went online from both Switzerland and the United States.There are many private and public, non-profit and for-profit institutions offering courses and degree programs through distance education. Levels of school accreditationaccreditation vary; some institutions offering distance education have received little outside oversight, and some may be fraudulent diploma mills.

Major institutions offering distance learning programs -

Australia -

Correspondence schools are run by state education departments for students in remote areas, where they are too far away to attend any school. Students and teachers use the postal system to communicate.

* Queensland - Department of Distance Education

School of the Air is a system similar to Correspondence schools but use radios developed in the 1920s for the RFDS to link students and teachers.

Canada -

Athabasca University

Royal Roads University

Simon Fraser University

Télé-Université

Thompson Rivers University

University of Waterloo

Ryerson University

Alberta Distance Learning Centre

Germany -

FernUniversität in Hagen

AKAD Privathochschulen

Diploma Europäische Hochschulen

Europäische Fernhochschule Hamburg

Fernfachhochschule Riedlingen

Hamburger Fernhochschule

Private Fernfachhochschule Darmstadt

China - expand list

Open University of Hong KongThe Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK)

School of Professional and Continuing Education, The University of Hong Kong (HKU SPACE)

India -

IGNOUIndira Gandhi National Open University

Iran -

Payame Noor University

The Netherlands -

Open University (Netherlands)

Philippines -

University of the Philippines Open University

Portugal -

Universidade Aberta

Russia -

MIM LINK (The Open University (UK) partner in CIS)

Singapore -

Singapore Institute of Management-Open University Centre (to be accorded university status as SIM University in 2006)

South Africa -

University of South Africa

Spain -

uned.es - Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Switzerland -

AKAD Hochschule für Berufstätige

Fernfachhochschule Schweiz

Thailand -

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

United Kingdom -

Heriot-Watt University

Open College of the Arts

The Open University

University of London

University of Wales, Lampeter

International Correspondence Schools

The International Extension College

The National Extension College

Napier University

The University of Glamorgan

United States -

California State University, Dominguez Hills

Charter Oak State College

City College of San Francisco

Empire State College

Excelsior College

Goddard College

Heritage College & Heritage Institute

Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Thomas Edison State College

Union Institute & University

University of Phoenix

University of Maryland University College

University of North Dakota

Utah State University

Norwich University

International -

European Graduate School

Universitas 21 Global, an online university affiliated to the Universitas 21 alliance

See also -

Efficient learning method

European Association of Distance Teaching Universities

''Caution Some organisations decribing themselves as Distance Education institutions are nothing of the sort and their actions may bring the sector into disrepute.'' Refer to Diploma mills and List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning.

Educational technology

External links -

degree.com Selection of distance learning courses

edpath.com - Educational Pathways: Paid-subscription Newsletter Covering Distance Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

distancelearningnet.com - Distance Learning: The Distance Learning Network

detc.org - The Distance Education and Training Council

eadtu.nl - European Association of Distance Teaching Universities

athabascau.ca - Athabasca University

stou.ac.th - Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

open.ac.uk - Open University (United Kingdom)

uni-hagen.de - Fernuniversitaet in Hagen - University in Hagen (Germany)

ou.nl - Open University (Netherlands)

italicon.it - Italian Culture on the Net A consortium of Italian Universities funded by the Italian Government which grants academic degrees

pfpconsortium.org - PfPConsortium.org - PfP Learning Management System powered by ILIAS - pfp.ethz.ch This new Learning Management System features more than 30 self-paced courses. The service is free and there is no obligation. You may register and start today!Category:Educational technologyCategory:School typesCorrespondence !schoolde:Fernunterrichtes:Educ ación? a !distanciahe:אוניברסיט ה? !פתוחהja:遠隔教育pt:Ed ucação? à !distânciaru:Дистанци� �нное? обучение DEBUG REDIRECT (distance education)

Groupboard
Interactive website tools for education, business and fun. Add whiteboard, chat, games, message boards, voice-over-ip conferencing and web conferencing to your site by simply copying a few lines of HTML code.
http://www.groupboard.com/

Learning Curve Home Study
A UK distance learning provider.
http://www.learningcurve-uk.com

Degree Programs - Education Portal & Guide
Portal site that lists degree and online degree programs and offers school and college information, training, articles, school reviews and an extensive education guide.
http://www.findadegreenow.com/

SyberWorks e-Learning Solutions
SyberWorks specializes in custom e-learning solutions, learning management systems, and custom online training development for companies, governments, and non-profits.
http://www.syberworks.com/

iQ Academies at Wisconsin
iQA is Wisconsin's largest virtual high school and is tuition free, public school option for Wisconsin students who register during the annual open enrollment period.
http://www.gotoiq.com/

LangLab
LangLab is cross-platform software that turns computer rooms into language labs and is usable over the Internet for distance learning. LangLab is a multimedia four-skill solution for structuring and delivering user-selected content for teaching any language. By far the least expensive offering with comparable functionality, it combines self-paced instruction with teacher-student interaction through real-time monitoring and later teacher retrieval and evaluation of student work, with comments inserted at any point in students' recordings. Authoring tools make it simple to record audio clips, import audio from CDs, insert pauses for responses, and link any Web page or instructional resource in file form (video clips, image files, Powerpoints, documents with text and illustrations, etc.) to items of lessons.
http://www.elanglab.com/

Healthy Distance Limited
Healthy Distance Limited provides distance learning courses in food hygiene online, on CD ROM or through the post. Postal courses available in English and Chinese. Also provides CD ROM based HACCP system (hazard analysis crtical control points)
http://www.healthydistance.com/

http://www.iaci-canada.com
Accredited Unisa University offers internationally recognized higher education for a Certificate,Diploma or Degree programmes up to a doctoral level
http://www.iaci-canada.com/

cahro limited
cahro is an established and successful consultancy providing trusted and creditable specialists to support organisations within the fields of: HUMAN RESOURCES EMPLOYEE RELATIONS SEARCH AND SELECTION HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT § DISTANCE LEARNING § E-LEARNING § DIRECT DELIVERY § MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT STUDENT FINDING SERVICE
http://www.cahro.co.uk

income tax teaching
Institute for teaching tax
http://taxforum.co.in/

eLearn-University.org
Online training courses and resources covering a wide range of subjects from a plethora of online providers.
http://www.elearn-university.org/

Affordable Unlimited Long Distance VoIP Conference Calls, web video conferencing software. Free trial
TalkGlobally audio & video web conferencing solutions. High quality, low cost online conference solutions. Customer support tools, distance learning, video streaming, collaborative tools for individuals & small business to large corporate users. Free Trial
http://www.talkglobally.com/

MBA by Distance Learning in India
Masters MBA degree and post graduate diploma in international management is available in India with exam centres in Chennai, Kolkota, Mumbai and Delhi
http://www.indiamba.org/

Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA)
The Canadian Solar Industries Association is a national organization supported by industry members, the public and government agencies. For more than 25 years, CanSIA members from all segments of the solar industry have joined together to support, promote and advance all forms of solar energy for the benefit of Canadians and the environment.
http://www.cansia.ca/

Distance Studies
The most comprehensive resource for students considering distance education in North America.
http://www.distancestudies.com/

TESOL Courses
Online, accredited TESOL courses with Global English; your passport to the world.
http://www.global-english.com/

HumanHand.com
All about the human hands. Learn palmistry, ask a question, or read articles. Online certification course is now available.
http://www.humanhand.com/

3DLearn Interactive Academy
Ground-breaking 3D virtual reality school for grades 7-12. Take classes in 3D, create your own 3D virtual reality learning worlds as part of the learning process and earn your high school diploma. Accredited full-time private school.
http://www.3dlearn.com/

ICDL
The International Centre for Distance Learning (ICDL) On-line Information Service.
http://www-icdl.open.ac.uk/

United States Distance Learning Association
A non-profit association formed to promote the development and application of distance learning for education and training. Includes K-12 education, higher education, continuing education, corporate training, and military and government training.
http://www.usdla.org/

University of Wisconsin - Extension
Offers distance learning courses.
http://www.uwex.edu/