Definition

Definition (67)

With this term, institutions defined what they meant by “distance education” and related words and phrases. Sixty-seven colleges included a definition term in their contracts. Definition has a subcategory of Materials. Occasionally, negotiated agreements specified the types of materials to be used in distance education courses. Definition terms are a permissible topic for bargaining.

Examples

Observations. Clarity in terms is important. In a “new” area like distance education, definitions can strip away some of the confusion and provide a common level of understanding. The terms are not, however, written in stone. Indeed, the very term “distance education” is slowly fading, at least in the state of Washington. In 2007, the state named a new director of “eLearning” and gradually the 32 community colleges in the state system are changing their distance learning departments to eLearning departments (Broughton, 2008). In Washington, 80% of students who enroll in distance education courses also attend campus courses (SBCTC, 2007). Many of the colleges provide online classrooms to every instructor for every class. The line between distance and traditional courses is blurring and the new term eLearning recognizes that.