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The Concept of Open and Distance Learning

Time and Place Continuum

Open and distance learning programmes fall somewhere along two continua: the continuum of time and the continuum of place. The place continuum has at one end all learners and their tutor or instructor gathered at the same place, and at the other end all learners and their tutor or instructor in different places. The time continuum has at one end all learners and their tutor or instructor interacting in ‘real time’, that is, at the same time, and at the other end all learners and their tutor or instructor interacting at different times.

The following chart demonstrates how these two continua intersect. Their co-ordinates are numbered and match four scenarios for open and distance learning. Most open and distance learning providers use a combination of the four scenarios.

Scenarios for open and distance learning

	Same time	Different time
Same place	Classroom teaching, face-to-face tutorials and seminars, workshops and residential schools	Learning resource centres, which learners visit at their leisure.
Different place	Audio conferences and video conferences; television with one-way video, two-way audio; radio with listener–response capability; and telephone tutorials.	Home study, computer conferencing, tutorial support by e-mail and fax communication.