Distance learning

Distance Learning or Distance Education is the overarching term for instruction where students and instructors are separated by time and/or space, using technology or other methods for communication and delivery of content. This can include entirely online (asynchronous), blended, or flipped models.

In the fall of 2023, 53.2% of students were enrolled in distance education courses at 5,677 postsecondary institutions (National Center for Education Statistics). Online and partially online enrollment continue to dominate growth. While year-over-year change in every post-pandemic year has seen some “return to the classroom,” when compared with pre-pandemic enrollment (2019), 3.2 million fewer undergraduates and 288k fewer graduate students are choosing classroom-only programs (Jeffe, 2025). 

Teaching from a distance requires planning and intentionality. The strategies below can get you started.