Distance learning or distance education is the education designed for students who are not able to be physically present in the traditional school. It is the process of teaching when the teacher and the student are in different places, and work on different times. If you have to attend the school for examination, experimentation or for any other reason, the system is no longer a distance learning but blended or hybrid education system.

Distance learning date back in 1728, but modern distance learning has been improved with the improvement of postal services. The University of London is among the universities that initiated distance-learning programs. As the technology developed the media to teach student off campus also improved, the well known is the Articulated Instructional Media Project which used different communication technology to convey the teaching materials. Some distance-learning program also can use radio and television to reach the students. Universities that specialize in distance learning are called Open University and can reach up to 100,000 students. With computer and internet, distance learning had become more effective, easier, and faster. Virtual universities have gained importance and can offer different courses in different areas. Some universities launched full online programs. Since the use of internet had been introduced in distance learning, the students who choose to study their course at distance have increased. Distance learning is not only with universities but also with nonprofit organization or other institution can use the program to teach the community. Regardless if distance learning is conveying basic knowledge or higher education, the institution has to be accredited and should be given the mandate to work in the required jurisdiction.  Many fake institution had come into being with the introduction of internet and it becomes a problem to identify genuine or fake institutions.

Distance learning use different methods to convey the material, you can get asynchronous or synchronous method. Synchronous methods are used when both participants are able to communicate at the same time. It is like a traditional classroom by using videoconferencing, web conferencing, direct broadcasting, live streaming, internet radio and telephone.  Asynchronous method is more flexible since the student can access the material at his own time and schedule.  There is no need for the students to come together to get materials or to say together, the methods used are postal mail, e-mail, audio recording, video, message board, print material, fax and voicemail.