Distance Learning Distance Learning education is a term that is used to described many different avenues of learning for the student. My first encounter with distance learning was while working on my undergraduate degree. The class was a managerial accounting class that was offered on Tuesday from 6-10 pm. The class was the first of its kind for Georgia Southwestern. The class consists of undergraduate students and graduate students. I attended class at GSW and the distance learning class was offered in another city about 30 miles away. The teacher would teach and ask question for both campuses. Back then, it was a overhead projector screen and the teacher would call to the other school so they could satellite in. Distance education is defined as institution-based, formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources, and instructors (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, Zvacek, 2012). Distance education has changes to stay current with today’s evolution of education. According to Teaching and Learning at a Distance, distance education starts with correspondence study back in 1833. Correspondence study is simply slow mail. For example, you are taking a class on drawing and the schools send you the assignment through the mail. You prepare the drawings and return them in the mail. You and the school are corresponding with each other concerning your work. The evolution continues with electronic communications and in the 1920’s at least 176 radio stations were constructed at educational institutions. By the 1930’s, experimental television teaching programs were produced at the University of Iowa, Purdue University and Kansas State College (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, Zvacek, 2012). All of these were advancements for the field of distance learning education. Last we have distance teaching universities which comes in the 1960’s. Open University in 1971 offers full degree programs, sophisticated courses, and innovative use of media (Holmberg, 1986). In 2012, we can look at Walden University as a distance teaching university. Walden offers many degree programs and technological advancements in the field of online learning. According to Wikipedia, Walden has almost 50,000 students (Wikipedia, 2012). This is distance learning at its best. I am a student in Georgia while there are other students across the United States taking classes as well. Distance learning also looks at effective communication. Communication occurs when two or more individuals wish to share ideas. Communication in a distance education environment happens when learners interact with one another and with their instructor (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, Zvacek, 2012). There are different distance education technologies available. The list includes correspondence study, prerecorded media, two-way audio, two-way audio with graphics, one-way live video, two-way audio, one-way video, two-way audio/video and desktop two-way audio/video. After the first week of reading and learning about distance learning education, my originally thought and idea of what distance education hasn’t changed. I can say this because over the years I have read and researched about education and how it has evolved. I define distance education as technology tools, instructors and students that communicate through different avenues to express our view of trending topics, educational advancement and overall day to day life. In the end, the main objective is to make sure than learning has taking place.