Distance Education and Tomorrow's Schools. Fastback 439.

Overview & Synopsis

This booklet provides an overview of distance education today, including discussion of exemplary programs and implications for the future. The first section defines distance education and examines trends, possibilities, and problems. Distance education technologies are discussed in the second section, including "low tech" systems (correspondence and audioconferencing), "high tech" systems (broadcast television, compressed video, computer multimedia modules, and online instruction), and technology costs. The next section addresses elementary and secondary education, including large- and small-scale applications. Postsecondary education, including higher education and adult continuing education applications, is discussed in the fourth section. The fifth section deals with preservice and inservice teacher education, followed by a section that considers implications, including the pace of change, suggestions for educators, and using distance education effectively. The final section discusses the potential of distance education to revolutionize tomorrow's schools. Contact information for relevant journals and organizations is included. (Contains 75 references.) (DLS)