Open and distance learning is defined by the Commonwealth
of Learning as “a way of providing learning opportunities that
is characterized by the separation of teacher and learner in
time or place, or both time and place; learning that is certified
in some way by an institution or agency; the use of a variety of
media, including print and electronic; two-way
communications that allow learners and tutors to interact; the
possibility of occasional face-to-face meetings; and a
specialized division of labour in the production and delivery of
courses.”