This handbook provides overviews and summaries of the research and practice of distance education in the United States. The last three to five years have seen an explosion of interest in and discussion about distance education, driven by the potential applications of interactive computer-based technology. Despite the impact of this new technology, this book is not about technology, but about the consequences of the separation of learners and teachers, one of which is the need to use technology. The volume provides a broad review of the research, complemented by commentaries based on practical experience. It addresses such questions as how distance education is best practiced at the level of the teacher, as well as the administrator, and it examines the public policy implications of shifting a greater proportion of educational resources to this method. Finally, it looks at how the expansion of distance education affects educational research and theory.
Open and distance learning techniques are increasingly finding their way into the school classroom. This book presents a forward looking assessment of approaches to teaching in schools that involving distance learning from both the teachers and learners perspectives -issues that will soon effect all school level teaching.Contributors include Margaret Robyler, University of West Georgia College of Education, USA; Julie Young, Co-Principal, Florida High School, and many others from Canada, India, New Zealand and Africa.
How can open and distance learning and information and communications technology (ICT) provide us with more - and better - teachers? Open and distance learning is increasingly used in teacher education in developing and developed countries. It has the potential to strengthen and expand the teaching profession of the twenty-first century and to help achieve the target of education for all by 2015. Teacher Education Through Open and Distance Learning examines the case for using open and distance learning and ICT to train our educators. It describes and analyses the ways in which these methods and technologies are used for: *initial teacher training and continuing professional development *training principals and school managers *training those who provide non-formal adult and community education *communities of practice and sharing of knowledge and ideas within the teaching profession It also discusses the policy-making, management, technology, costing, evaluation and quality assurance aspects of this work. The contributors are outstanding practitioners in the field. The first review in over a decade, Teacher Education Through Open and Distance Learning draws on wide-ranging and international experience to summarise the strengths and weaknesses of new approaches to the education of teachers. It offers invaluable guidance to policymakers, planners, headteachers and teachers.
Online distance education and training is being adopted throughout the world as a cost-effective, flexible answer to widening access for all. This enthusiasm has led to many initiatives and policies from governments to encourage online learning at international, national, regional and institutional levels. Also, changes in distance learning continue to take place as a result of educational discourse and innovations in ICT. Distance learning courses are therefore under pressure to reform, and successful management of external policy planning and internal change management is key to the implementation and maintenance of reforms.World-class leaders, researchers and practitioners share their experiences, research and critical reflection in this book, providing guidance on how to balance quality management with quality learning. Subjects covered include policy and planning, institutional management, management of processes, quality assurance and accreditation, and internationalization.This book will aid anyone involved in running or wanting to implement distance education to effectively manage an online learning program.
Learner-Centered Theory and Practice in Distance Education: Cases From Higher Education brings the voice of the learning sciences to the study and design of distance learning. The contributors examine critical issues in the design of theoretically and pedagogically based distance education programs. Eight distance education programs are described in enough detail to allow readers with different interests to understand the pedagogical approaches and the implications of implementing those approaches. Issues of theory, pedagogy, design, assessment, communities of practice, collaboration, and faculty development are discussed. Each section of the book includes: a primary chapter written by an author or authors involved with a distance education program that reflects learner-centered principles; a formal reaction to the chapter by a specialist from the learning sciences, educational evaluation and policy, administration, or the corporate sector with expertise in issues of distance learning; and an edited transcript of the authors' discussion of the primary chapter held at a symposium at the Asilomar Conference Center. A final "summing up" section offers two perspectives-from leading scholars outside the fields of instructional design, evaluation, and the learning sciences-on the approaches and thinking reflected in the rest of the book. This book is essential for researchers, as well as all those engaged in delivering, supporting, or administrating distance education programs at the post-secondary level. The descriptions, strategies, and principles will inform the design of continuing education, as well as degree-based education and corporate education and training, and distance education programs for adults.
This collection provides a critical, non-commercial exposition of both the enormous opportunities and challenges for higher education that are tied to the use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the development of distance education and distributed learning.
Conventional apprenticeships and older methods of professional training are not providing enough skilled workers - governments, companies and colleges are now using open and distance learning to fill these gaps. Published in association with the Commonwealth of Learning, this unique review provides detailed analysis of worldwide experiences of vocational training and distance education. It looks at recent policy and practice at different levels - from trans-national programmes and national policies to institutional and programme models. Offering guidance on how distance education and new technologies are being used to support vocational education and training, this book will help senior institutional managers and policy makers to understand and appreciate: * the role distance education can play in increasing skills levels in young people and the existing workforce * the challenges in using educational technologies, and distance education to deliver vocational education and training * how to devise effective policies to meet these challenges.
This report examines ways in which distance learning can help the Army more quickly alleviate active component manpower shortages in understrength military occupations. The analysis finds that distance learning can enable faster completion of reclassification training, faster completion of professional development courses, and more efficient forms of skill training, depending on the nature of the course materials selected for instruction via distance learning. The analysis addresses the costs and benefits of these potential changes as well as potential implementation problems that could raise costs or reduce benefits.