An Introduction to Distance Education: Understanding Teaching and Learning in a New Era

An Introduction to Distance Education is a comprehensive look at the field of distance education, outlining current theories, practices, and goals that are essential to effective design, delivery, and navigation. As an alternative pedagogical approach, distance education is posited to meet the evolving demands for access, affordability, and quality in higher education. This fully revised and updated second edition reviews the history of distance education while addressing its current influence on the education sector.

Utilizing a student-guided approach, chapters offer pedagogical features to engage and support the teaching and learning process, including:

• questions for reflection, review, and discussion: students can use these questions as triggers for further thoughts related to the topic. Instructors can use these questions for classroom and online discussion
• key quotations: strategically placed throughout the text, these points act as a springboard for further reflection and classroom discussion
• concept definitions: central concepts discussed in the text are defined for students at the end of each chapter.

Driven by seminal contributors who are researching and shaping our understanding and practice of distance education today, An Introduction to Distance Education offers a solid foundation from which to explore and develop new approaches to designing and implementing online courses.

Martha F. Cleveland-Innes is Professor and Program Director in Graduate Education Programs at Athabasca University, Canada. She is an award-winning researcher and author in the field of distance and blended higher education.

D. Randy Garrison is Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary, Canada. Dr. Garrison has published extensively on teaching and learning in distance, higher and adult education contexts.