Theory and practice of distance education
DISSERTATION
Nancy F. Barrett, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign . Awarded
Abstract
Through interviews with exemplary practitioners of distance education and a review of relevant literature and documents, this study provides a summary of current best practice in distance education. From the interviews, three major themes of teaching and learning, technology, and administration emerged as the categories which comprise best practice. Although all of these elements are necessary for effective distance education to occur, tensions among the three elements sometimes develop. When tensions develop, a dilemma for distance education develops: the competing priority of learning needs versus those of technology.
While the respondents described the dilemma in the interviews, the potential resolution of the dilemma came from the literature. By using concepts from organizational and learning theory, the dilemma can be explored and the competing values of learning versus technology can be reframed. What was once a paradox can be better understood in terms of an emerging value for distance education. This emerging value is characterized by a consideration of risk, situated learning, instructional design, learning communities, technology, outreach, internal structures, and adaptive leadership. These characteristics of the emerging value suggest a template which serves both as a tool to evaluate current programs as well as a way to plan future distance education efforts.
Citation
Barrett, N.F. Theory and practice of distance education. Ph.D. thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Retrieved August 12, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/119833/.
![](https://editlib-media.s3.amazonaws.com/sources/proquest.png)
Citation reproduced with permission of ProQuest LLC.
For copies of dissertations and theses: (800) 521-0600/(734) 761-4700 or https://dissexpress.umi.com
Keywords
Cited By
View References & Citations Map-
Student Satisfaction in the Context of a Postgraduate Programme of the Hellenic Open University
Elina Anagnostopoulou, Ilias Mavroidis, Yiannis Giossos & Maria Koutsouba
Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education Vol. 16, No. 2 (2015) pp. 40–55
-
Theories and Frameworks for Online Education: Seeking an Integrated Model
Anthony G. Picciano
Online Learning Vol. 21, No. 3 (2017) pp. 166–190
-
The search for learning community in learner paced distance education: Or, 'Having your cake and eating it, too!'
Terry Anderson, David Annand & Norine Wark
Australasian Journal of Educational Technology Vol. 21, No. 2 (Jan 01, 2005)
-
Three generations of distance education pedagogy
Terry Anderson, Editor, IRRODL; Jon Dron, Athabasca University
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning Vol. 12, No. 3 (Jan 11, 2011) pp. 80–97
-
Increasing Access to Higher Education Through Open and Distance Learning: Empirical Findings From Mzuzu University, Malawi
Winner Chawinga & Paxton Zozie, Mzuzu University
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning Vol. 17, No. 4 (Jul 08, 2016)
-
Narrowing the Distance: Using E-Learner Support to Enhance the Student Experience
Patrick Kelly & Charlotte Stevens
European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning Vol. 2 (2010)
-
Differences Between Traditional and Distance Education Academic Performances: A Meta-Analytic Approach
Mickey Shachar & Yoram Neumann
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning Vol. 4, No. 2 (Oct 01, 2003)
-
Rethinking the Research Agenda
Hilary Perraton
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning Vol. 1, No. 1 (Jun 01, 2000)
-
A Comparative Study of Dropout Rates and Causes for Two Different Distance Education Courses
Christos Pierrakeas, Michalis Xeno, Christos Panagiotakopoulos & Dimitris Vergidis
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning Vol. 5, No. 2 (Aug 01, 2004)
-
Replacing Face-to-Face Tutorials by Synchronous Online Technologies: Challenges and pedagogical implications
Kwok Ng, The Open University of Hong Kong
The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning Vol. 8, No. 1 (Feb 27, 2007)
-
Applying Systems Design Principles to the Design of Web-Based Training Systems
ANTJE BETTIN, LISA DILLINGER, SAL FERRARO & Armand St-Pierre
WebNet Journal: Internet Technologies, Applications & Issues Vol. 1, No. 3 (1999) pp. 28–33
-
Applying Social Cognitive Constructs of Motivation to Enhance Student Success in Online Distance Education
Marios Miltiadou & Wilhelmina C. Savenye, Arizona State University, United States
AACE Review (formerly AACE Journal) Vol. 11, No. 1 (2003) pp. 78–95
-
Developing and Teaching a Computer-Mediated Second Language Course in Academic Reading
Esther Klein-Wohl & Gila Haimovic, Open Univ. of Israel, Israel
Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2001 (2001) pp. 60–62
-
Course Learning and Evaluation Management for Cyber Education
Mi-Young Huh, Jong-Hwa Yi & Yong-Jin Kim, ETRI
Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2000 (2000) pp. 2367–2372
-
Content Analysis as a Tool for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Distance Learning Systems
Baruch Offir & Y. Lev, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2000 (2000) pp. 183–188
-
The Potential for Mindful Teaching at a Distance: A Dual Challenge in Educating Teachers
Karen L. Murphy, Texas A&M University, United States
International Journal of Educational Telecommunications Vol. 1, No. 2 (1995) pp. 167–183
-
Roles of the Students and Teachers in Distance Education
Aytekin Isman & Fahme Dabaj, Eastern Mediterranean University, Turkey
Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2004 (2004) pp. 497–502
-
Distance Education in Higher Education: Two Graduate Level Programs
Angela Benson, University of Illinios at Urbana-Champaign, United States
EdMedia + Innovate Learning 2004 (2004) pp. 4665–4670
-
Developing eLearning Materials in Developing Settings: Reflections on the Team Development Approach at the University of Botswana
Philip Uys, University of Botswana, Botswana
EdMedia + Innovate Learning 2004 (2004) pp. 4646–4649
-
Rehoombekah! Innovative Online Learning for the Postbaccaleureate Market
Lesa Lorenzen Huber, Indiana University, United States
EdMedia + Innovate Learning 2004 (2004) pp. 3945–3950
-
Diversity - The Impact on Distance Learner Support Needs
Melody Clark, University of Cincinnati, United States
E-Learn: World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2004 (2004) pp. 1823–1827
-
Distance learning supports: The intentionality of pre-assessment surveys
Patricia McGee, The University of Texas at San Antonio, United States
E-Learn: World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2002 (2002) pp. 1887–1890
-
Paradigms and Frames for R&D in Distance Education: Toward Collaborative Electronic Learning
Walter Heinecke, University of Virginia, United States; Kara Dawson, University of Florida, United States; Jerry Willis, Iowa State University, United States
International Journal of Educational Telecommunications Vol. 7, No. 3 (2001) pp. 293–322
-
Capturing Communication and Interaction Needs of the Users – Building Better ICT Based Learning Environments
Raila Äijö & Johanna Leppävirta, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland; Sigrún Gunnarsdóttir, Iceland Telecom, Iceland; Deborah DiDuca, BT
EdMedia + Innovate Learning 2001 (2001) pp. 19–20
These links are based on references which have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. If you see a mistake, please contact info@learntechlib.org.