DISTANCE LEARNING AS ONE OF THE FACTORS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION

The article examines distance learning as one of the promising directions in the development of the modern educational system. A distinction is made between the concepts of “distance learning,” “distance education,” and “distance educational technologies” based on the works of Russian scholars and regulatory documents. The historical background of this form of education in Western Europe, the United States, and the Russian Federation is outlined. It is shown that the relevance of distance learning in Russia is determined by geographical, economic, and social factors. The article systematizes the main advantages of distance learning, including accessibility of educational resources, flexibility of the learning process, opportunities for continuing professional development without interrupting employment, and the development of independent work skills. At the same time, the main limitations of this format are identified, including the need for high student motivation, an adequate level of digital literacy, appropriate technical equipment, difficulties in user authentication, and the labor-intensive development of high-quality electronic content. It is concluded that distance learning cannot be regarded as a complete alternative to traditional education; however, it constitutes a significant and necessary component of it under conditions of social informatization and the growing demand for continuing education.