Distance education is a new trend of education which generally takes place when a teacher and student (s) are not face to face but are separated by physical distance and various electronic media are used to bridge the instructional gap. Before ten years this system or trend was not thought a goal means of education because 'to take degree' was not the sole aim of a student. Instead people thought that regular classes provided real knowledge to the students and therefore there should not exist any alternative of it. But with the progress of science electronic media, new electronic equipment, the situation has been changed. Through TV. Educational programmes, the correspondence education can be made to be understood in better way.
Research comparing distance education to traditional face to face instruction indicates that teaching and studying at a distance can be as effective as traditional instruction, when the method and technologies used are appropriate to the instructional tasks, there is student to student interaction, and when there is timely teacher to student feedback. As regards experiments in the laboratory, students can have better understanding than of school labs. Now distance education is covering the whole field of education from academic to technical fields.
Population is increasing rapidly. And in this age of science education is considered a must for all to maintain the standard and status of a happy man. Trends in education are therefore changing fast to make it (education) reach to everybody. As a result distance education system is getting popularity day by day and now it has been a popular mode of learning not only for the formal courses but for professional courses too. M.B.A., M.C.A., C.A., I.C.W.A., B.C.A. and many other professional courses are available through distance learning these days. And the modern students have accepted this new mode without hesitation due to its various advantages. The contribution of TV. programmes regarding distance education is praiseworthy.
Distance education is full of possibilities. Its growing popularity itself explains the truth. Nowadays many prestigious universities and institutions are serving the society through this system. It is a boon for those students who really want to pursue their education but they have no time to attend regular classes. Distance education provides them opportunity for this. It is an effective option to continue education.
But one trend is alarming in the system. Almost all institutes conducting this system are merely interested in conducting exams and providing degrees. That's why some Bay that this is merely a system to obtain degrees anyhow. But education does not mean degrees only, it is much more than that. Before the sources of educational TV. Programme It may be right to some extent. But at present this correspondence method has taken a unique place.
The electronic media, new electronic equipment, teleconferencing facility, etc. have provided ample scope for distance education to emerge as a strong alternative, especially
in India. The key to effective distance education is focusing on the needs of the learners, the requirements of the content and the constraints faced by the teacher, before selecting a delivery system.
However, its success depends on the integrated efforts of students, faculty, facilitators, support staff and administrators
