Traditional learning vs online learning essay and issues in distance education: on traditional learning vs online learning. Distance learning distance education can trace its roots to 1840 when sir isaac pitman, the english inventor of shorthand, came up with an idea for delivering. Remember that distance education isn't a singular thing, and that many of the key debates also apply to traditional instruction, writes joel shapiro. Distance education, or distance learning, is a field of education that depends on the information technology, and instructional systems that plan to provide learning.