Relationship between a Teacher and Student in Distance Learning

Unlike the teacher in traditional learning who communicates and interacts with his/hers students directly within a classroom, the teacher and student in distance learning are not in direct contact and communicate through variety of medias. The contacts and communication between student and teacher in distance learning are usually minimal and limited to occasional correspondence.

The main role of the distance learning teacher, who must be certified for appropriate grade level and well trained for distance education, is to prepare lessons and learning material as well as to select the types of media and forms of learning material appropriate for independent learning. However, with purpose not to loose contact with students completely the distance learning teachers usually organize occasional weekend and summer camps.

Most of the time distance learning student communicates with a tutor or site facilitator who is responsible for providing additional help in learning and in queries related to learning material as well to motivate the students. The interaction between tutor and student usually takes places through telephone, mail and e-mail, while distance learning institutions usually also provide possibility for personal meetings.

Although distance learning bases on independent learning the distance learning students is not left on his/her own. Like students in traditional learning who can ask for additional explanation their teacher, distance learning students has also possibility to turn to their teacher although additional help and support is most often provided by the tutor.