Distance Learning: Real Options for Continuing and
Higher Education
By Dr. Ken Lorimer
The Internet and other enhanced media technology have
brought the visions and theories of programmed learning and Computer Assisted
Instructions to reality. The contributions of noteworthy scholars, such
as B.F. Skinner, F.S. Keller, J. Bruner, Gordon Pask, Frank George, Charles
Rich, William Norris, Patrick Winston, Karen Prendergast, and organizations
such as, the Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence groups at MIT, Harvard
University, Brunel University at Uxbridge, England, London University,
BBC Education Programmers, the program instructors at the Open University
at Milton Keynes U.K., the Computer-based Education Research Laboratory
at the University of Illinois and others, provided the foundation for
the development of distance education in the modern world.
Distance learning and distance education consist of organizations and
educational delivery systems that do not require a student to be physically
present in the same class room as the instructor or fellow students. This
is an acceptable alternative to the traditional educational institution,
particularly when the costs of obtaining a good college education at a
traditional educational institution are going up. Distance education is
convenient for busy adults and people who do not want to worry about traffic,
parking problems and the inconvenience of fixed class schedules.
The instructional methods of distance education combines instructions
on the Internet, the use of video tapes, audio tapes, educational television,
compact disks, printed materials, and text books. In many cases, feedback
between a student and an instructor or an instructional program is much
faster than what you receive at the traditional college or university.
Some traditional universities are experimenting with the notion of distance
of distance education, while the adaptive colleges and universities are
busy trying to make higher education more accessible, convenient, and
available beyond their geographic boundary. Courses on professional development,
certificate and diploma courses, and accredited degrees in areas as business
administration, accounting, and computer information systems, criminal
justice, healthcare, law, management, MBA and more are now available through
distance education.
If you are keen about knowledge and are unable to travel on campus, or
looking for a course that is not available from the traditional university
system, you may want to consider the alternative. The list of credible
educational institutions that offer distance education is growing rapidly.
Here is a small sample of educational institutions that offer distance
education programs.
Arizona State University, Brigham Young University, California State University
Dominguez Hills, CyberEd at UMass Dartmouth, Drexel University, University
of Alaska, Fairbanks, University of California, Berkley, University Alliance,
University of Maryland, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, University
of Phoenix, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and others. To learn more
about this field of discipline, a list of books is presented below. You
cna read any of these books from your lirbray or buy them here on this
site. Just make your selection and click the title.
Recommended Reading List:
