Directions in Distance Education.

Overview & Synopsis

Noting that forms of distance education have been available for 150 years, this paper gives an overview of distance education designed to help educators understand how distance education can be used. Sections of the paper address: (1) background of distance education; (2) methods and technology for delivery of distance education (including computer-mediated communication and interactive video networks); (3) administrative concerns; (4) pros and cons of distance education; and (5) a summary of research regarding student learning. The most recent research suggests that the new technology has provided advances that enable students to learn as well with distance education as they might in traditional educational settings. Also, the advantages of distance education over traditional instruction include the opportunity to achieve equity of access, share resources, provide personnel when teachers are unavailable, extend existing personnel, provide special courses, adapt to individual learning styles, and improve flexibility regarding physical, time, and scheduling constraints. (Contains 78 references in which 25 items are distance education and computer-mediated related.) (RS)