Using Distance Education to Prepare School Administrators: Pitfalls and Effective Practice

Overview & Synopsis

The employment of practitioners and the expansion of distance education courses have become controversial issues in the preparation of school administrators. In large measure, both actions have been condemned by many senior professors, primarily because they believe that college administrators have pursued them for economic reasons rather than for educational improvement. First, the merits of this perception are examined. Second, the pitfalls and promises of each issue are identified and then recommendations are made for improving practice. The potentialities of involving practitioners in professional preparation and making pre-service and in-service education more accessible via distance education will not be realized unless regular faculty are committed to these ideas and deeply involved in making decisions about their deployment.