Distance Education: An Annotated Bibliography.

Overview & Synopsis

This annotated bibliography emphasizes the pedagogical concerns of distance education with a focus on teachers, students, and administrators. Chapter 1 begins with the history of distance education and correspondence education; histories of specific institutions; and histories of television in the classroom. Chapter 2 covers the philosophy of distance education with the following topics: the definition of distance education; the difference between distance education and traditional education, and applicable learning theories; student responsibilities; and the purpose of distance education to extend educational opportunities. Administrative questions of cost; organizational structure; methods of communication with students; and evaluation procedures for both students and programs are discussed in chapter 3. Chapters 4 and 5 focus on issues of interest to teachers and to students. Highlights for teachers include preparing course materials, presenting lecture material on television, engaging off-site students actively in a class; and for students, the possibility of maximizing their learning from distance education. Chapter 6 explores distance education in non-academic settings, particularly in the military and in industry. Chapter 7 examines the efforts of many countries to provide distance education. Books are cross-referenced from one chapter to another. Two-hundred and ninety-seven sources are provided. Appendices list periodicals that cover the field of distance education and electronic sources (online journals or discussion groups) devoted to the field. (AEF)