Jheroma Simon

OMDE 601 Section 9040

February 22nd, 2015
Online Learning
Distance Education (DE) is defined by Moore and Kearsley (2012) as teaching and
planned learning in which teaching normally occurs in a different place from learning, requiring
communication through technologies as well as special institutional organization. Defining DE
has not been an easy task as it is seen as a new form of education versus an addition to the
already existing educational system. Online learning represents a range of practices based on
the Internet that provides synchronous and asynchronous communication in a personal and group
environment (Cleveland-Innes & Garrison, 2010, p19). Online learning is most suited to define
DE as it incorporates the ideal that technology can be used to bridge the geographical gap and
allows for teachers to teach and students to learn both individually and in a group.
Taking a closer look at Cleveland-Innes & Garrisons (2010) definition online learning
opens accessibility of learning without the barrier of geographical differences. Because of the
distance the use of technology has become a necessity used to supplement missing components
of the traditional face-to-face classroom. Online learning is learning and teaching that is
completely reliant on the use of the Internet. Though various organizations have developed
different ways to best use the technology needed for DE at different institutions, one thing they
all share is the use of the Internet. Online learning comprises of communication between student
and teacher, discussions among classmates, individualization and independent learning, all
through programs online.
In DE, the student takes the initiative to learn on their own with the guidance of a teacher
(Moore & Kearsley, 2012, p2). Similar yet different to independent study, DE allows for more
efficiency in communication through the use of technology (Cleveland-Innes & Garrison, 2010,
p17). First introduced to the idea of taking an online class, in undergraduate school, the most

Jheroma Simon
OMDE 601 Section 9040
February 22nd, 2015
Online Learning
appealing aspect was the asynchronous accessibility. Having to work and physically attend
classes every day, it was less of a hassle and more convenient to work independently, online, and
at a self-pace. This class was not defined as a distance education course but as an online section
of a course. This class was a combination of text, images, sound, and artifacts (Peters, 2001)
completely via the WEB, with little to no interaction with the professor. Self-guides, coursework packets, assignments and tests were uploaded to the Universitys preferred online program
with deadlines and due dates. All work was expected to be completed on time and there were no
conversations, lectures or conferences necessary to pass the class. Students, like me, were able to
take advantage of the university, the professors, and the course-work without physically
attending class.
Online learning presents students of all ages, the ability to control their education.
Students are able to choose where they study (anywhere in the world), who their professors are
(faculty), what they learn (the information received), and the ways in which they receive the
information (visually, text, auditory, etc.). Online learning courses like face-to-face classrooms
depend on teachers to help students learn via the use of different media. The difference is using
technology to enhance the quality of teaching is just accommodating technology to the old ways
of doing things (Bates & Sangr, 2011, p12) in the classroom considered blended learning
where-as in online learning, technology is the sole means of communication (Kearsley &
Moore, pp3). Online learning requires a student based community in which the student teaches
and learns independent of face-to-face interactions, lectures, and verbal communication between
an instructor and students. Online learning mirrors this belief and can easily be used to define the
newest pedagogy in education- Distance Education.

Jheroma Simon
OMDE 601 Section 9040
February 22nd, 2015
Online Learning

References:
Bates, A.W.T. & Sangr, A. (2011). Managing technology in higher education: strategies for
transforming teaching and learning. CA, USA: Jossey-Bass.
Cleveland-Innes, M.F. & Garrison, D.R. (2010). An introduction to distance education:
understanding teaching and learning in a new era. New York, NY: Routledge Taylor and Francis
Group.
Kearsley, G. & Moore, M. (2012). Distance education: as system view of online learning (third
edition). CA, USA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Peters, O. (2001). Learning and teaching in distance education. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
Taylor and Francis Group.