User:Ananyasg

The terms distance education, open education, flexible learning,e learning,online learning are being used interchangeably today.We have seen seen that distance education is a method, while open education is normally the school or university system of education.Hence Open Education will use distance education methodologies, while it may not perforce function singularly as a distance education institution solely. The use of technology has made distance education a more and more complex incumbent.While the expression distance education originates from the idea that time and distance separated the learner[see Keegan],technology in effect and paradoxically has reduced time and distance.Yet metaphorically speaking the learner can be at a distance; because the 'distance learner' is basically isolated.What are his/her characteristics, generally speaking: -the adult learner -the working/employed learner -the professional learner -the trainer -the drop out -the 'disadvantaged learner -the learner in remote rural areas

Because of the above the learner is at a 'Distance'. Hence a learner living in a teeming, boisterous city may still feel the pangs of isolation.So teaching in distance and open education, should take the form of counselling and should be very much empathetic. As a result of the wide use of the computer and the internet, there is today a convergence between tradtional and non traditional learning.The computer and its usage can radicalise conventional teaching stereotypes.Teachers in the tradtional schools, colleges and universities can use the internet to synchronously and asynchronously ' chat ' with students.E learning apart from using mutitasking devises, such as the moodle can also simulate the prototypical classroom by hosting web based lectures, such as podcasting etc.The radio is now brought into the computer through computer broadcasting.The potential of the skype can be explored to interact with students at a distance, in fact across territorial borders-cross border collaboration, without charging for courses.This will be an exemplification, of 'one world'-the world as global community.

Ananya.S.Guha INDIA.