Distance education is one of the areas that has particularly benefited from the Internet in different countries around the world. Although distance learning dates back decades, the expansion of the network of networks offers new tools that provide real-time interaction, making it an excellent option for an increasing number of people.

Originally, distance education was based on the use of books (to provide students with contents) and mail (to get the books to students). Later technological advances like audio cassettes and videotapes were incorporated. When personal computers became a household staple, different types of courses were designed. All of these tools have limitations: the fact that a teacher is not available to help the student, the time needed to respond to student queries, and other problems that often reduce student motivation and lead them to drop out.

The world has changed a lot over the past years. People expect things to be done more quickly; they are doing more activities and it has gotten more difficult to be at a certain place at a certain time. For many people, these changes have made it more difficult to access traditional education. To respond to this challenge, distance education has incorporated the latest technologies. Thus, the use of Internet as a means of communication for distance learning has helped enrich the student experience, increase the interaction between users and professors, and allow professors/trainers to respond in real time. This method thus facilitates the access to education of a great number of people since it allows people in different locations to be “side by side.” In addition, it can be adapted to the availability of each student, allowing them to fit their education in among other work and family responsibilities.

Other advantages to distance learning include:

• Lower cost

• Customizable contents

• Participative learning

• Multimedia contents

• Responses in real time

• Up-to-date: It is easier to update an Internet course than a book.

Thus, thanks to Internet, distance education has become an excellent option for thousands of people who could otherwise not access classes due to scheduling issues or distance.