The Design and Management of Effective Distance Learning Programs [Download: PDF] [Digital]

Richard Discenza (Editor), Caroline Howard (Editor), Karen Schenk (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review

The reader can understand the great challenge of distance learning and what theories, principles and experiences can improve real-world outcomes. -- James Pick, University of Redlands

This book explores a paradigm shift from the classroom confines to a learning model distributed in time, location and technology. -- Scott McIntyre, CIO, Quantum DLTG --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Richard Discenza is a professor of Production Management and Information Systems in the College of Business and Administration at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. He received his BSF in Forestry from Northern Arizona University, an MBA from Syracuse University, and a PhD in Management from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Discenza was formerly dean of the college where he helped establish and oversaw the development of a distance MBA program. His current research focuses on business process reengineering, distance education, project management and supply chain management. He has published numerous articles in professional and academic journals and is a member of APICS, the Academy of Management, and PMI.

Caroline Howard is on the faculty of the Goizueta Business School of Emory University where she teaches in the Decision Information area. She has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD from University of California, Irvine. She researches, consults and publishes in the areas of distance education, electronic commerce and telecommuting.

Product Details

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• Format: Adobe Reader (PDF)
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• File Size: 1 KB
• Digital: 316 pages
• Publisher: Idea Group Publishing (December 27, 2001)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,298,776 Paid in Books (See Top 100 Paid in Books)
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars On-line education - a reason to pause for just a moment?, August 7, 2002

By 

G. N. Dick (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Design and Management of Effective Distance Learning Programs (Hardcover)

The eyes of University Presidents and Vice-Chancellors all around the world light up as they think of those hundreds of millions of potential students out there, just waiting to pay money to study at their Universities - "If just 1% of them came here.... $$$$!!! Information Technology via the Internet and on-line delivery of our courses - will that provide the answer?" As Universities (and other educational institutions) rush to establish a presence in the "virtual" education market, often building Internet classrooms that in many cases resemble the "Field of Dreams" model - "build it and they will come" (they don't, and won't, of course) this book is a welcome steadying contribution.

Let me declare an interest before going any further - I am the author of a chapter in this book. That said, the book provides a serious collection of research articles aimed at making some early sense out of this fast-growing area. It is important to remember it is early days yet and much of the research conducted to date, and the practice, is preliminary - a problem compounded by the rapidly changing technology.

While most of the chapters in the book paint a generally optimistic picture, there are many problems, pitfalls and dilemmas identified. These range from restrictions and difficulties involved in state financing of education, through the difficulty of authenticating student work and testing of students, technological limitations, special dedication and skill attributes required in students, the suitability of some courses to remote delivery, to library strategies. This suggests that at least in the eyes of these practitioners (and most of them are) it will be far from plain sailing. Somebody needs to tell those Presidents!

There are several chapters that provide guidance in (very early) "best practice" and these present a useful if somewhat disjointed guide for those considering running such courses. Perhaps a future work could attempt to establish a "best practice" manual, although as the courses come to conform to a standard blueprint the competitive edge will blur.

For academics the book identifies many areas for additional research. These include further work in the potential take up of on-line education by both students and Universities, the influence of the isolation effect, measurement of learning achievements, and interaction of students with the technology.

Overall the book offers a very good collection of experience and research. There is much more work to be done and many more experiences to be had. Uninversity management (and many academics ) will push to move ahead - there could be a lot of fallout, but in the end is it just possible this could be the University of the future? For a small percentage of students - maybe.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good exploration of issues with practical advice, February 20, 2002

By 

Suzanne Montgomery (Jacksonville, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Design and Management of Effective Distance Learning Programs (Hardcover)

This is a great book for anyone considering setting up a distance learning program. The authors are even-handed in their treatment of issues that must be dealt with and provide practical advice for implementing a distance learning program.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Design & Management of Effective Distance Learning Progs, March 2, 2002

By 

"jamespick" (Redlands, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Design and Management of Effective Distance Learning Programs (Hardcover)

This book provides an outstanding range of ideas, research, and insights into distance learning programs. The book is enlightening about how to improve distance teaching and learning, the design of these programs, their successes and failures, and how they are impacting institutions of higher education,