Distance Education Models and Best Practices

ACADEMY ADMINISTRATION PRACTICEJUNE 2011Key Findings Printed materials remain an important component of most distance educationcourses. Two-way technology-based communication is now an essential feature ofdistance education delivery. Email, internet chat, and internet videoconferencing are the most costeffectivemodes of communication. All courses should incorporate opportunities for synchronous (real-time)communications. There has been a recent re-emergence of videoconferencing in distanceeducation implementation due to the development of inexpensive voice overinternet protocol (VOIP). Social networking sites are seen as potential areas for futuredevelopment due to their multi-faceted capabilities and communityorientation. Six key factors that should be kept in mind during course design:‣ Delivery and access‣ Control‣ Interaction‣ Symbolic (or audiovisual) characteristics of the medium‣ Social presence created by the medium‣ Human-machine interface Faculty members should be given access to internal or externaltechnical and course design consultants. Teachers must be flexible, innovative, and creative, as dealing with thedistance learner presents challenges different from that of a traditionalclassroom. The prevalence of tenure track faculty in emerging e-learning fieldsspeaks to the important correlation between faculty engagement andcourse success. Faculty teaching online should feel invested in theprocess, as staff buy-in strengthens programmatic outcomes. We found© 2011 Hanover Research ‐ Academy Administration Practice2