We have no rapport. I think that point is the difference between distance education and distance learning. Distance learning implies a continued or continuing relationship between the teacher who is at a distant place from the student. The value of that relationship is that now we can follow-up and maintain contact with the student to insure that there are outcomes or changes in behavior consistent with the education. I think about making presentations at conferences.
People come, and they take notes.
They might discuss some of the material with colleagues, they may even hang around after the presentation and ask questions but when it is all said and done, they go back to their offices and work just like they always did. There is no change in behavior, no impact. Along with the teacher and the student being in different places we now have the opportunity to broach another limitation in traditional training and education, time. Now we can interact without having to deal with the constraints of time. We can have a discussion that takes place at the students convenience.