Product Description
The field of distance learning is growing in importance and size. This introductory distance education textbook gives readers the basic information they need to be knowledgeable distance educators. Understanding that most students would prefer to sit in a classroom, the book offers practical solutions for providing equivalent opportunities for various ways of learning. Distance education requires considerable pre-planning in order to be effective, and yet when… More >>
Of great value to students, educators, managers as well as developers of the technology and learning interaction channels.
Thorough, sparsely illustrated chapters span:
- foundations and history, including correspondence
- research & distance education
- technologies- taxonomy, live video, classrooms
- copyright
- instructional design- process, planning, issues, models
- student- leaner responsibilities
- teaching- role, policy
- handouts, study guides, visuals
- WWW
- assessment tools (of students)
- evaluating teaching success
Overall, a complete and vendor-neutral, balanced view of the field. Perhaps of greatest use to students contemplating signing up for a course and their future professors. Check analysts like Gartner, IDC and others for the business & market dynamic aspects surrounding the actual learning interaction.
Rating: 5 / 5
I use this book as my text in The Foundations of Distance Education and Training course I teach at the University of Phoenix. It has recently been updated and in the past 4 years of teaching this class, not a single student has complained about the book (somewhat unusual).
Rating: 4 / 5
The book is very appropriate for a text in a distance learning class. It covers a wide range of topics – definitions, history, instructional design, student characteristics, student assessment, program evaluation, and copyright. Chapters include a summary and self-assessment questions. The book has an academic slant, which gives students a foundation in theory and research. This also means some do not find it an easy read. The book does not have much depth on the instructional technologies themselves.
Rating: 4 / 5
This is an excellent book. The authors know their business. The writing is clear and easy to follow. I particularly like the pratical information provided by the authors and their examples. There is also a chapter on copyright and applications. The book covers a brief history of Distance Ed which shows how this educational platform has grown.
I particularly like the fact that this book is both easy to read and interesting.
Rating: 5 / 5
I like this textbook…it is user friendly and well organized. It also offers a plethora of information for learning how to start a distance learning course from the foundation up. I will definitely keep this book for reference after the class is over.
Rating: 5 / 5