Distance learning, or distance education, is the field of education that focuses on the andragogy and pedagogy, instructional systems, and technology designs that looks to deliver education to students who can’t be physically “on site”. Students and teachers communicate at their own convenient time by exchanging electronic or printed media, or else meet via conference on the Internet.

These days most people call this practice long distance leaning.

The earliest evidences of distance learning could be traced back as early as 1728. Caleb Phillips, a teacher of short hand, published an ad in the Boston Gazette seeking students whose lessons will be sent weekly. The Internet was, of course, science fiction at the time. Who says you needed video conferencing to conduct long distance education?

Today, notable universities are seeing the advantages brought on by long distance learning. It’s only a matter of time before this method breaks out and becomes the primary accepted form of learning throughout the world.