Winter 2009. Networking and Telecommunications for Educators (EDTC 6434) provides an introduction to distance and blended education. Distance education is teaching and learning that takes place where there is physical separation between the instructor and students. Typically, there is also a time separation, meaning that the instructor and students aren't accessing the course at the same time. Blended courses are courses in which there are some online components. For example, there could be online documents such as a syllabus or readings. There could be podcasts, an online gradebook, or online quizzes. A blended course takes place primarily in a face-to-face environment, while taking full advantage of technologies that work well outside of the classroom.