Whose in charge here?

The role of an instructor in a DE course is very different from one in a traditional face-to-face class. In a traditional format the instructor, or teacher is sharing educational content directly to the learner. They are also available for direct and immediate interaction for additional discussion or clarification of learning concepts.

In a distance education format, there are a variety of ways instructors participate in the educational experience. A synchronous DE format provides an experience very similar to that of the face-to-face classroom. Students are able to experience a live class in a similar way to students who attend in person. The level of interaction will vary and there may be a wide range of technologies employed to ensure the quality of leaning. Synchronous formats, especially video conferencing are considered the easiest format for students transitioning from a traditional classroom.

An asynchronous format represents an entirely different experience for both the learner and the instructor. The instructor serves as a facilitator and motivator in the learning process. The student primarily gains knowledge from the learning media and material that is included in the instructional design of the course. The student then offers evidence of their learning and in a course designed for interactivity, receives feedback and further discussion from instructors and peer students. The instructors guide, rather than direct the learning and each student may have a different learning experience depending on their interaction with the material, their peers and their instructor.