Distance education

Distance learning (English Distance Learning ) is a consumer protection law clearly defined term: According to Distance Learning Protection Act of 1977 is the " distance learning " to the " transfer of knowledge and skills in the teacher and the learner are exclusively or predominantly spatially separated, and the teacher or his representative to monitor the success of learning " ( FernUSG § 1 para 1). Distance learning can thus quite include classroom seminars, but the vast majority of the learning material is, by definition - and, unlike the Direct Instruction - physically separated from the teacher, so individually and self-paced, edited, the appropriate educational institution is also called distance learning school. Pedagogical support and learning success distinguishes distance education from self-study again.

Elements

In the context of distance learning in particular the following elements are used:

  • Printed Teaching Booklets, also called Lessons due to postal shipments
  • Audio - or video-based learning units
  • Per media Computer Based Training and submitted online running Web -based training
  • Submitted assignments that are sent for correction by mail or electronically to the teacher.

The cohesion of a correspondence course can be promoted through regular meetings, seminars and web-based methods of e-learning.

Content / educational goals / financial statements

Distance learning content are few limits. Distance learning programs, there are, for example, in the content areas:

  • Language Learning
  • Commercial developments
  • Further training in soft skills
  • Further developments in the IT sector.

With the help of distance learning for different educational objectives can be achieved, for example:

  • Degrees
  • Professional qualifications and specializations
  • University certificates without academic degrees
  • Academic degrees, for example, Bachelor, Master or Diploma.

Complete a distance learning opportunities are quite diverse. So there are deals that are completed with a certificate of attendance (without examination ) in distance education provider. Besides are offers that finish with a certificate or certificate after passing an examination in distance education provider. And there is distance learning programs that prepare them for a test at external body, for example in a chamber ( IHK, HWK) or with a professional body.

Consumer Protection

In Germany since 1977 are subject to all distance learning courses to authorization by the Distance Learning Protection Act. Even privately organized distance learning programs at private or public universities are subject to the Distance Learning Protection Act. Only public law organized distance learning courses, pure self-study programs from the e -learning and pure hobby courses that serve the recreation or entertainment, are exempt. The National Centre for Distance Education ( ZFUs ) in Cologne decide after application on the accreditation of distance learning courses. Approved distance learning courses given an approval number which the provider must perform visible in the information. Regulated distance learning programs, which are still in the approval process of ZFUs and where approved by the ZFUs is likely to be, " For the time being approved " with the note and the corresponding end ZFUs no. to be provided.

The admission procedure of ZFUs is checked whether the specified by the provider course objective is achievable in principle. This practical and didactic also be controlled as the concept of educational care and learning controls. Further checks the ZFUs whether the distance learning contracts and the information materials comply with the specifications in the Distance Learning Protection Act. To allow remote learners i.d.R. protected after the conclusion of surprises. Who has a state- approved correspondence course, has guaranteed the following:

The ZFUs checks - partly in cooperation with the Federal Institute for Vocational Education - the distance learning programs solely on the basis of provider information and teaching materials. The distance learning programs themselves are not doing them. Approved offers will be audited so that they meet the statutory requirements and that the didactic- pedagogical concept makes sense. Qualitative differences in the design of distance learning offer or the monitoring of remote learners, however, are not considered.

The consumer protection by the Stiftung Warentest chooses a different way. Distance learning programs in the test of Stiftung Warentest be used by trained testers incognito from start to finish to complete. Here, for example, the monitoring of remote learners will be taken through the distance education institution or the Internet-based study center to complete. Based on the use of offers by test persons and the evaluation of the tester documentation by expert reviewers also independent of the providers statements about the actual quality of the offers can be made.

History of distance learning: changes in the media used

Distance learning of the 19th century was mainly due to epistolary correspondence. Learners received this post educational texts sent. This phase is described as the first phase of distance learning. Approximately 1960 began with the establishment of open universities the integration of telecommunications, at first based telephony and television in distance learning. Technologically speaking, begins in the 1990s, a third phase of distance learning in the increasingly Internet technologies and e-learning can be used ( cf. Zawacki -Richter, 2011).

Current market developments

Currently (as of November 20, 2012 ) Interested parties can choose between 2,985 state- approved distance learning courses from 414 different providers. The public higher education sector is excluded.

Since 1983, the distance learning statistics will be charged once the Federal Statistical Office in the year - a voluntary survey of providers of state- approved correspondence courses on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF ) and supported by the forum DistancE -learning.

According to the latest distance learning statistics 245 332 people in Germany have shown a correspondence course in 2004, 218 027 of them privately funded in their spare time in addition to the profession. More 27.305 adults " got away " as part of internal training programs. The use of numbers within the company inserted distance learning courses have thus compared to last year more than tripled.

The remote learners have distance learning courses in 2004 is in the following areas:

  • 31 % economic
  • 16 % IT
  • 11% Creative Design, Leisure or Health
  • 10 % Languages
  • 10% technology
  • 9% General educational school diplomas or
  • 5% pedagogy
  • 4% Humanities
  • 4% Social Sciences

Forms of distance learning are mainly used in the field of adult and continuing education. Only a quarter of the distance learners in 2004 was under 25 years old. Nearly 40 percent of them took advantage of distance learning as a second chance for education. Another 17 percent occupied distance learning courses in the field of business and commerce. And 11 per cent of under-25s are preparing via distance learning before an exam to become a certified business economist, engineer or translators.

The number of people over forty-somethings that a correspondence course completed in 2004 was compared with 2003 increased by 19 percent: Meanwhile, a fifth of all long-distance learners are at least 40 years old, 4.6 percent are already over 50, 21 percent of over 40 year olds occupied distance learning courses in economic area, almost 19 percent occupied courses for leisure time creatively and health issues and about 15 percent completed distance learning courses to improve their language skills.

In 2004, almost half of the remote learners in Germany women; five years ago the proportion was 43.5 per cent, 15 years ago only 32 percent.

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