Identification, Evaluation, and Perceptions of Distance Education Experts

Instructional quality can make or break the learning experience, especially in digital environments where the expressional nuances of interpersonal communication are lost. The most effective distance education instructors and experts are those who recognize the educational needs of students and are able to address those needs through creative use of the technological tools available to them. Identification, Evaluation, and Perceptions of Distance Education Experts explores the current and future trends, needs, and priorities that affect the development of distance education in a postmodern world. This premier reference work will be of significance to those interested in online learning, teaching and training, communication, and education across multiple sectors such as universities, colleges, schools, profit/non-profit e-organizations, and e-commerce.

Gulsun Eby is a professor in Distance Education at the College of Open Education of Anadolu University. Dr. Eby undertook graduate studies at Anadolu University, Turkey (MA Educational Technology) and the University of Cincinnati, USA (Ed.D. Curriculum & Instruction), and also has worked a post-doctoral fellow at the College of Education at New Mexico State University, USA (2001-2002). Dr. Eby earned her B.S. degree in Computer Engineering from the College of Informatics Technologies and Engineering of Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Turk-Kazakhstani University in the year 2012-2013. Also, she is currently a graduate student in the Department of Computer and Instructional Technologies. Dr. Eby has over 29 years of experience in focusing on the egalitarian and ecological aspects of distance education; finding new answers, viewpoints and explanations to online communication problems through critical pedagogy; and improving learner critical thinking skills through project-based online learning. She continues to manage and provide pedagogical support for distance learning programs.

T. Volkan Yuzer, Ph.D., is professor in Distance Education at College of Open Education, Anadolu University. He undertook graduate studies at Anadolu University, Turkey. His research interests are new communication technologies, synchronous, asynchronous, and interactive communications and transformative learning milieus in distance and online education. He has over 17 years of experience in exploring additional distance learning media and providing communication and technological support for distance learning programs as well as develop online learning courses. Dr. Yuzer has participated in projects related to distance learning, online synchronous learning, and virtual classroom. He has been teaching courses in distance learning, communication, and information technologies.