HR Definitions

Distance learning is a term that was coined in the 1960s to describe learning that takes place at home, or at the place of work. The learning program was administered by an Educational Institution and could also be referred to as learning by correspondence.

The term is now used to encompass any learning that is undertaken outside of a dedicated learning facility (class room).

Distance learning can now be accessed by many more people through the emergence of wide bandwidth internet access over the last five years.

Information can be distributed quickly and efficiently over the internet for the student to access and respond to at a time that is convenient to them.

At HRworkbench, we use the term to refer to personal exercises that participants in our programs engage in at their place of choice, at a time to suit them.

These exercises are a component of our blended learning approach to the development of people.

Distance learning can be used when the learning process does not need interaction with other people, and flexibility in time of learning, speed of learning, and place of learning need to be determined by the participant.

Best Practice Distance Learning works well when it is a component of a full blended learning program.

Blended Learning/Flexible Learning
Computer Based Learning/Computer Facilitated Learning
Computer Based Training/Computer Facilitated Training
e-learning/Online Learning/Web Based Learning/Web Based Training