| Chances are you know someone who is working | | | | technology is opening up new markets of potential |
| toward a college or post-college degree via the | | | | students without significantly diminishing the number of |
| Internet. Perhaps you yourself have attended online | | | | students who would enroll in traditional colleges and |
| classes to continue your education, obtain a | | | | universities, many of which also are offering |
| certification, or to improve you chances for | | | | technology-mediated distance education. |
| advancement in your job. | | | | Distance learners are also generally happy with their |
| More and more people are finding they can earn their | | | | online learning experience. A large-scale national study |
| degree from an accredited online university which | | | | of student participation in distance education |
| offers the same challenge and quality of a traditional | | | | addressed student satisfaction of distance education |
| classroom in an environment which allows them to fit | | | | classes and, when asked how satisfied they were |
| education into a life that might be too busy for a more | | | | with their distance education classes compared to their |
| conventional method of instruction. | | | | regular classes, a majority of both undergraduate and |
| According to a recent government study, about | | | | graduate students were at least as satisfied or more |
| 127,400 distance education courses were offered in | | | | satisfied with the quality of teaching in their distance |
| 2001-02, and there were about 3.1 million enrollments in | | | | education classes compared with their regular classes. |
| distance education. Over one-half of all postsecondary | | | | Perhaps it is time to focus attention on the more basic |
| education institutions offered distance education, and | | | | question of how students learn, regardless of the |
| another 12 percent planned to offer distance education | | | | delivery system. Technology-mediated distance |
| in the next 3 years. | | | | learning is evolving so quickly it's difficult for education |
| Distance education is defined as education or training | | | | experts to set standards that adequately address the |
| courses delivered to a remote (off-campus) location | | | | current status and the future potential of the online |
| via audio, video, or computer technologies. Courses | | | | learning experience. |
| conducted exclusively on campus, as well as classes | | | | Because experimental studies comparing distance |
| conducted exclusively via written correspondence, are | | | | education courses with campus-based courses have |
| not included in this definition of distance. | | | | been based upon the premise that campus-based |
| It is increasingly clear that technology has expanded | | | | courses are the "gold standard," which may be open |
| the ability of students to participate in postsecondary | | | | to question, it may be advisable to abandon these |
| education. Virtually every type of learner can benefit | | | | studies. It appears that addressing how students learn |
| from some form of online education. In addition to the | | | | and focusing on outcomes assessment would be |
| rapid proliferation of new courses and programs, | | | | more productive. |
| colleges and universities are taking advantage of the | | | | Several organizations have developed standards and |
| Internet to enhance the admissions process and give | | | | guidelines to ensure quality distance education, including |
| potential students the opportunity to apply online. | | | | the Southern Regional Electronic Campus, the National |
| Online education enables you to learn without causing | | | | Education Association, and the Western Cooperative |
| a major upheaval in your life. You can access online | | | | for Educational Telecommunications. These guidelines |
| class rooms using any Internet connection, anytime and | | | | cover areas such as course development, evaluation |
| practically anywhere. This round-the-clock access | | | | and assessment, faculty support, and institutional |
| allows you to download assignments, read and | | | | support. Among the benchmarks, |
| participate in class discussions, review faculty | | | | interactivity--between student and faculty, student and |
| feedback, and much more, all at times which are | | | | student, and student and information--is the single most |
| convenient to your professional and personal schedule. | | | | essential element for effectiveness in distance |
| Many students find that this added flexibility, which | | | | education. |
| does not sacrifice quality, helps keep them on track | | | | It is clear that online learning and distance education |
| toward their goals more readily than with the rigid | | | | are here to stay. The benefits are compelling, |
| scheduling of a traditional learning environment. | | | | especially to those who have succeeded in completing |
| There is also evidence that a portion of those students | | | | their education or adding a much needed certification |
| who participate in postsecondary education in their | | | | to their credentials through an online educational |
| homes or workplace would not otherwise enroll in | | | | experience. |
| postsecondary education. Thus, it appears that | | | | |