Cases on Building Quality Distance Delivery Programs : Strategies and Experiences

The field of education is continually changing to reflect the needs and demands of students. The greatest impact on education came with the introduction of audiovisual technologies, computer technologies, the Internet, and the World Wide Web. Cases on Building Quality Distance Delivery Programs: Strategies and Experiences targets pressing needs in distance education by connecting theory and practice, addressing emerging leadership issues, and identifying best practices in teaching and learning. This book unites cases that not only can be used for teaching, but also as a resource for building quality distance delivery programs.

Stephanie Huffman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership Studies at the University of Central Arkansas. She earned her EdD in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University. She also holds an MS in Library Media and Information Technologies and a BSE in Vocational Business Education. She currently serves as program coordinator for two graduate programs (MS in Library Media and Information Technologies and MS in Instructional Technology) and as Director of Distance Learning for the College of Education. Her research interests include distance learning, technology planning and leadership, literacy, technology integration. She is an active member in the American Association of School Librarians, Association for Educational Computing and Technology, and the International Reading Association. Last year she was named Technology Leader of the Year by the Arkansas Association of Instructional Media.

Shelly Albritton is an Associate Professor at the University of Central Arkansas in the Department of Leadership Studies. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Department of Educational Leadership and Research of the College of Psychology and Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She was a teacher and a school leader in public schools for many years and now teaches graduate students who aspire to be school leaders. She is dedicated to providing her students with excellent teaching and learning experiences in distance learning environments. Albritton's research interests include school leadership issues, parent involvement, and distance learning. She is a Certified Blackboard Trainer and has served as a Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Reviewer.

Barbara Wilmes is an Associate Professor of Education in the Department of Early Childhood and Special Education at the University of Central Arkansas. Wilmes holds a BS and a MS from the University of Minnesota-Mankato and a PhD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She taught in P-12 schools in Minnesota and university level courses in Missouri, Nebraska, Georgia, Iowa and Arkansas. Wilmes served as Director of Education for the Seminole Tribe of Florida developing several programs and supervising the development of a tribal language program. She was instrumental in building and developing three tribal libraries with up-to-date computer equipment. Her research interests include environments that support university students' learning, including technological/electronic environments and reading. Wilmes is the parent of four adult children.

Wendy Rickman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Arkansas. She teaches a variety of courses in both the Library Media and Information Technologies Graduate program and the Instructional Technology Graduate program. Rickman has a Master's of Science in Library Media and Information Technologies from the University of Central Arkansas and earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University. With over 6 years of experience in K-12 education, Rickman has an incurable interest in technology, instructional integration, and censorship issues.