Distance Learning Technologies: Issues, Trends and Opportunities [Paperback]

Linda Lau (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2000 | ISBN-10: 1878289802 | ISBN-13: 978-1878289803 | Edition: 1

In today's technology-crazed environment, distance learning is touted as a cost-effective option for delivering employee training and higher education programs, such as bachelor's, master's and even doctoral degrees.

Distance Learning Technologies: Issues, Trends and Opportunities provides readers with an in-depth understanding of distance learning and the technologies available for this innovative media of learning and instruction. It traces the development of distance learning from its history to suggestions of a solid strategic implementation plan to ensure its successful and effective deployment.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

In 1991, the World Wide Web (WWW) was conceptualized at the European Particle Physics Laboratory (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland, with the sole purpose of making research findings and scientific materials available to the academic and scientific community on a global network. Since then, the Internet has become an important communications medium for both giant corporations as well as individuals, and lately, as an innovative instructional and distance learning tool for academic instructional and distance learning tool for academic institutions. Actually, distance learning was pioneered at Stanford University more than 30 years ago to meet the increasing demand for high-tech engineers and computer scientists at Silicon Valley. Today, nontraditional bachelor and master's distance learning programs are offered by more than 150 accredited academic institutions in this country. According to the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), an organization committed to promoting and developing distance learning, there were no significant differences in effectiveness between distance learning and the traditional learning techniques. Hence, this book was written to provide both academicians and practitioners with a body of knowledge and understanding regarding the distance learning technologies.

This book is divided into three sections. The first four chapters provide the theoretical foundation of distance learning, commencing with Valerie Morphew's proposed constructivist approach to Web-based learning and instruction, followed by Rita Purcell-Robertson and Daniel Purcell's descriptive analysis of interactive distance learning. While Dat-Dao Nguyen and Dennis Kira summarize and evaluate the effectiveness of Internet-based teaching, Zane Berge and Donna Smith focus on implementing corporate distance training using change management, strategic planning, and project management.

The second section describes the conceptual aspect of distance learning in seven chapters. William Rayburn and Arkalgud Ramaprasad introduce three strategies for using distance learning technology in higher education, and also describe the alliances of distance learning in higher education. While Lore Peyton introduces eight elements that will contribute to the success of a distributed/distance learning program, Lynne Schrum describes several issues that will contribute to the design of successful online instruction. Mitchell Adrian, on the other hand, develops a learning environment that is capable is applying technology and TWM to Distance Learning. Digital video is often utilized as an important tool in the education system; hence, Major Todd Smith and Captain Scot Ransbottom discuss the use of digital video in the modern classroom, with a focus of learning. Finally, Caroline Howard and Richard Discenza conclude this section with an empirical study of a group decision support system typology.

The final section of the book provides five cases of practical implementation of distance learning. Eric Adams and Christopher Freeman describe the commuting of distance learning at Pepperdine University, while Sherif Kamel illustrates a successful Internet endeavor in Egypt. Jens Liegle and Peter Meso attempt to examine the Web-Based Instruction Systems (WBIS) from the systems' perspective, describing its components and interfacing technologies, critical problems, issues, and taxonomy for classifying the various types of WBIS. Ira Yermish, on the other hand, describes a case study via video-conferencing at St. Joseph's University. Finally, Janet Hugli and David Wright evaluate the training requirements of the network marketing industry, based upon the industry needs and availability of training resources.

About the Author

Linda K. Lau, Ph.D. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) is a financial consultant associate with Salomon Smith Barney, Inc. in Richmond, VA. For the past five years, she was Assistant Professor and Discipline Coordinator for MIS in the School of Business and Economics at Longwood College, Farmville, VA. She was the author and coauthor of numerous articles and an ad-hoc reviewer for the Information Resources Management Journal and SAM Advanced Management Journal. Her name was also published in the Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 5th Edition (1998) and International Who's Who of Professionals for the Year 1997. Her past research interests include using Behavioral Anchored Rating Scales (BARS) for employee performance evaluations, developing Web pages, writing applets using Java programming language, and distance learning.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Idea Group Publishing; 1 edition (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878289802
• ISBN-13: 978-1878289803
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,508,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars How does technology fit with evolving distance learning?, December 26, 2000

By 

W. Chernish "Professor-Farmer-Putterer" (Finger Lakes, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Distance Learning Technologies: Issues, Trends and Opportunities (Paperback)

As a practitioner of distance learning in a number of forms and formats, I eagerly seek new publications that might help to bring a little more knowledge and science to the art. The title of Lau's book was sufficiently intriguing for my to buy it. Its promise of tying technologies to issues, trends, and opportunities, however remains largely unfilled.

Lau has produced a collection of 16 chapters from 22 authors with broad backgrounds and a divergent set of views on distance learning. Some have addressed the issues to technology application head-on, some not so directly. There is an underlying unevenness of this collection, though they all relate to distance teaching or distance learning. Some chapters are stiff and formal (chapter 1, for example) and others are very loose (2); some are broad and general (2), and others focused and technical (10, 16); some are well documented (5, 9), and others not at all (7); some are profusely illustrated (1, 10), and most not visually supported.

Lau set out to provide a volume to (1)"provide the theoretical foundation of distance learning," that (2) "describes the conceptual aspects of distance learning." and (3) "provides five cases of practical implementation of distance learning." To some degree, all are provided with varying success.

Several chapters were well received by this reader. Of special interest was Adrian's piece on technology and total quality management in developing a learning environment. He does a nice job of presenting and integrating concepts of TQM and distance learning, and setting forth some modifications in the traditional TQM process to apply to the distance environment.

The piece which may come closest to meeting the promise of the title is by Smith and Ransbottom of the United States Military Academy at West Point; it lays out a fairly technical discussion of issues and challenges in meeting the evolving needs and technology related to the use of video in the distance learning world.

Adams and Freeman also offer an interesting short analysis of the use of knowledge management and application of technology in an evolving doctoral program.

There are of gems buried in this volume, though they might be difficult to locate. There are also some good ideas which bear further development; perhaps a project for another day or other researchers.

If you are a value-conscious book buyer and reader, you may want to skip this one. The few really strong and useful chapters might not justify the....price tag.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable insights, November 11, 2001

By 

Paul R Trahair - See all my reviews

This review is from: Distance Learning Technologies: Issues, Trends and Opportunities (Paperback)

A few of the articles in this collection, edited by Linda Lau, may be peripheral to your interests - for me these were topics such as 'Applying Technology and TQM to Distance Learning or 'Web-Based Training for the Network Marketing industry', but in general this is an excellent collection of thoughtful and thought-provoking essays around the title themes. I'm confident that everyone involved in this area will find articles with valuable insights both basic and advanced into this rapidly burgeoning field of endeavour. For example, the pedagogical analysis in the first essay 'Web-Based Learning and Instruction: a Constructivist Approach' by Valerie N. Morphew (West Virginian Wesleyan College) is succinct, insightful and offers a basis for explaining to recalcitrant academics how their teaching may actually benefit from incorporating some web-based teaching and learning activities.