In higher education, distance learning is providing undergraduate and advanced degrees to students in offices, at community colleges and other sites. Students for whom convenience may be a crucial factor in receiving college credit are earning degrees by satellite, audio, or on-line computer. Faced with retraining 50 million American workers, corporate America is using distance learning for all aspects of training both internally and externally. Many major corporations, such as Hewlett-Packard save millions of dollars each year using distance learning to train employees more effectively and more efficiently than with conventional methods. Programming for distance learning provides the receiver many technical and content options.
Technology offers many options for delivering and receiving education over a distance.
The ability of the teacher and students to see each other may not be a necessary condition for effective distance learning, but audio can be a critical component for interactivity. Teaching strategies based on computer applications are emerging that also highly effective. Research in effectiveness is limited in K-12 applications, but existing research, project evaluation, and anecdotal evidence strongly suggest that distance education is an effective means for delivering instruction just as it has been proven effective in adult learning and training settings. Telecommunications systems that serve education can also benefit the community at large. In rural areas especially, telecommunications systems and services are tied increasingly to economic development and community survival.