Abstract
Distance education became a reality, increasingly based on higher education. The pandemic context (COVID-19) that devastated many countries and the whole world in general proved this reality and presented a different proposal in education and even in people's lives. It has changed the educational system, and there has been much discussion about e-learning and remote teaching in digital learning environments, yet they are quite different terms. This chapter aims to study what exists to date about distance learning in higher education, with a special focus on business administration courses. To get the full benefit of online learning, new strategies and learning methodologies are applied, and information and communication technology can play a fundamental role here.
TopMethodology
This chapter aims to analyze some scientific publications on DE in Higher Education, attending management courses. Initially, a list of documents was prepared in a database (Scopus), based on some criteria that justified the validation of those documents, like the procedure for choosing certain keywords in the search area. Thus, some “direct” terms to the study were used, such as “distance”, “education”, “online”, “learning”, “higher” and “e-learning”, linked to an additive code “AND” (“distance” AND education” AND “online” AND “learning” AND “higher” AND “e-learning”).
It was necessary to identify some highly regarded authors for the definition of DE. In order to facilitate the search, the option “Search within” in Scopus was selected: article title, abstract and keywords. In addition, it was selected some subject areas linked to the Management area, such as Social Sciences, Computer Science and Business, Management and Accounting and also some document and source types, such as articles, reviews and journals.
Key Terms in this Chapter
E-Learning: Computer based educational tool or system (the “e” comes from electronic) that enables people to learn anywhere and at any time.
Remote Learning: Education obtained remotely since in-person sessions between the learners and educators are impossible due to a very peculiar situation.
Active Learning: Teaching method that transforms learners as active participants in their learning and creates student-centered classrooms instead of teacher-centered ones.
Digitalization: Transformative use of technology that organizations incorporate into their vision statements and company culture.
Distance Learning: Education obtained remotely since in-person sessions between the learners and educators are limited.
Blended Learning: Alternative and active education method that combines digital learning and face-to-face teaching time.
Traditional Learning: Long-established teaching method with a very few digital interactive and innovative strategies, currently much more student-centered than teacher-centered.