**9. References**


**2**

*Iran* 

**Distance Teaching and Learning in** 

Mehran Farajollahi1 and Nahid Zarifsanaee2

*1Department of Education, Payame Noor University, Tehran* 

**Higher Education: A Conceptual Model** 

*2Center of Excellence for E Learning, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz* 

Learning is the beginning of a need for perfection. It is evident that the more science and knowledge is developed; the more need for change in learning and its mechanisms are required. Distance learning is one of the alternative approaches which can be replaced with face to face or traditional learning and is one of the key factors in the development of higher education (Taylor, 2001). One of the pioneer scholars, Holmberg (1983, p. 25), defines distance education, as a non contiguous communication. It means that, with respect to the time and place, the learner and instructor are separate from each other. Keegan (1993, p. 75) consider the separation of the instructor and learner at the learning time as a main feature of distance education. From his point of view, distance learning refers to:"A programmed educational system for establishing the teaching-learning procedure by the use of an organization and not a teacher whose object is to select and apply proper techniques for using new technologies in education, facilitating the mutual relationship between the learner and instructor, providing independent learning situations and evaluating the

Garrison (2003) also stated three characteristics for defining distance learning as the

1. Distance education implies that the majority of educational communication between

2. Distance education must involve two-way communication between (among) teacher and his/her student(s) for the purpose of facilitating and supporting the educational

3. Distance education uses technology to mediate the required two-way communication. Distance learning provides a far better situation for the students rather than the traditional learning because the learning can occur everywhere at anytime outside the university. Distance learning prepares the way for that most of educational goals like independent learning, self-directed learning, learning in every place and not dependent to a specific time, participation learning and education, self-assessment and fast presenting of the feedback

**1. Introduction** 

followings:

process.

learning outcomes by the learners themselves".

a teacher and his/her student(s) occur non-contiguously.

from previous studies manifested to be more ascertainable.


 http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/ifactory/ksgpress/www/ksgnews/transcripts/dru cklec.html. 3/25/2005.

