Distance education or distance learning is a way of using technology to learn remotely without being in regular face-to-face contact with a teacher or educator, regardless of location.
For example, school or university lessons, vocational courses, and professional courses could be delivered to students online, and in the future even through virtual, or augmented reality approaches (technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view).
Alongside distance learning being selected as one of the top two potential benefits of digital technology in education, the majority of Scottish citizens think that schools and universities should provide more of these kinds of services.
An added benefit of distance learning is that it helps to ensure attainment in rural areas matches that in cities, where access to education services is more straightforward, and that students and educators in remote areas are not disadvantaged.
Do you think schools and universities should provide more remote and distance learning services?
This issue is one the Scottish Government continues to address, forming the commission on the Delivery of Rural Education in 2011, and publishing its recommendations in 2013 .
One recommendation agreed by all stakeholders was the need for greater connectivity – with insufficient broadband coverage noted as a possible, “significant isolating and limiting factor for rural areas”.
The commission’s report said broadband improvement, “would provide much greater opportunities for otherwise isolated schools, with online learning for pupils and improved continuing professional development opportunities for teachers; as well as the chance to benefit from further innovations likely to develop in the next decade.”
The majority of Scottish citizens agree, with 92 per cent saying that digital technologies (e.g. online education courses, distance learning) could better connect remote and rural areas and improve attainment.
To what extent do you think digital technologies could better connect remote and rural areas and improve attainment?
Reflecting on these results, and on the earlier findings around the potential benefits of digitalisation and the IoT, it’s clear there are differences of opinion between residents in the Highlands and the rest of Scotland.
This has, in fact, been the case across these series of three research reports from Capita on behalf of SWAN, with similar conclusions drawn when exploring digital transformation in local government and in healthcare.
For instance, in the Highlands, people were more likely to say that the IoT wouldn’t enhance the delivery of local government services (23 per cent), and more than a third (34 per cent) of Highland respondents said they wouldn’t use digital technology to contact a healthcare professional.
Both of these figures were higher than the corresponding averages for all of Scotland in each report. To understand why this trend has emerged throughout this research, it is important to consider the complexities of the Highlands region which may result in slightly more negative perceptions of what technology can offer.
Broadly, the Highlands consists of some larger conurbations such as Inverness, some smaller towns such as Wick, and several remote communities spread across challenging terrain, including island communities.
There is currently a low level of connectivity outside of places like Inverness, and in Thurso, Wick and Fort William, where efforts have been made to increase access to full-fibre broadband.
In some places, residents struggle to even get 2G network reception – so the idea of smart technology in education, or more connected public services in general, may seem like a remote possibility to many living in these areas.
The result is that expectations around digital technologies and the IoT are lower than in larger cities and towns. To combat this, public service providers and educators in the Highlands and in rural areas need access to digital infrastructure that reaches all corners of Scotland, in order to enable connected, smart technology and the IoT.
These findings underline the need for further education around the potential of greater digitisation in the public sector throughout the Highlands and rural regions – helping residents to see what’s possible will encourage opinions to change.
Moreover, the success of the smart classroom will depend on having an IT infrastructure in place that can offer the required level of connectivity.
The UK Government and Scottish policy makers are addressing these issues; in particular with funding from the Department of Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), which is increasing access to full-fibre broadband through its Rural Gigabit Connectivity Programme (RGCP).
SWAN supports these efforts, and is fully committed to driving fibre into rural and remote areas to deliver the bandwidth to reach the ‘final 20 per cent’ that remain unconnected. Initiatives such as this help not only local and developing businesses, but also public services, and health and education services.
Some institutions in remote and hard-to-reach areas are leading the way when it comes to digital transformation in Scottish education, showing that existing connectivity challenges can be overcome.
One such institution is SWAN member, the University of the Highlands and Islands (Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean); it has 70 learning centres spread around the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Perthshire, and can deliver a large percentage of its courses to anywhere in the world via distance learning.
The University uses Ajenta’s Vscene solution via SWAN as part of this – which is a video collaboration platform developed specifically for the research and education sectors. Digital technologies such as this remove geographical barriers and enables remote conferencing and collaboration, regardless of a student or teacher’s location.
“We are already seeing the benefits of digital technology in education – the SWAN network has allowed us to deliver courses to anywhere in the world via distance learning,” said Jem Taylor, Head of Strategy and Development in the University of the Highlands and Islands’ learning and information services department. “Digital technologies have removed many of the geographical barriers that previously restricted students’ learning. With our learning centres spread around the Highlands and Islands, Moray, Argyll and Perthshire, this has been invaluable in helping us level the playing field for further and higher education in the region.”