Distributed Education and Its Challenges: An Overview. Distributed Education: Challenges, Choices, and a New Environment.

Overview & Synopsis

This paper is designed to provide college and university presidents with an overview of distance education, e-learning, or what is called "distributed learning," a term preferred here because "distance" is too restrictive a concept. This overview identifies significant issues associated with distributed education and suggests questions to help institutional leaders establish and validate their options. The paper considers these issues: (1) challenging assumptions about distributed learning; (2) student learning; (3) strategic goals; (4) intended audiences; (5) market size and growth of distance education; (6) governance and organization; (7) partnerships; (8) quality; (9) policies; (10) barriers; and (11) leadership challenges. Six appendixes provide supplemental information, including a comparison of target markets among selected providers and guidelines for distance education. Policies designed to remove the barriers to widespread adoption of distance education must come from all levels so that the many benefits of distributed education, particularly for students, can become available. (Contains 24 references.) (SLD)