Distance Learning in America is characterised by an enormous variety of institutions, programs, media and pedagogical methods. This book attempts to draw together an overall picture of the rapid growth and achievements in the field of American distance education and the problems and issues that confront it. The book is aimed primarily at the university and college teacher and student, and particularly at graduate students in adult and distance education and other related fields. It aims to provide a cross-sectional view of the administrative and policy issues, the questions about learners and instruction, the problems of curriculum and course design and the new conceptual and theoretical concerns of some of the country's foremost practitioners and thinkers.

Over the last decade, the field of distance education (and e-learning) has substantially strengthened and assumed a more international scope. There has been an impressive growth in the conceptual, empirical and experiential foundations of the field. Trends and Issues in Distance Education: International Perspectives (2nd Ed) captures a representative snapshot of the breadth of current global trends and issues in distance education theory, research, and practice. Through 21 chapters (from over 30 international authors), the book documents new developments in distance education scholarship and practice, presenting a diverse set of viewpoints on the trends and issues affecting this increasingly central discipline. The book is for researchers, practitioners, and students. Chapters speak to the many creative ways in which distance education addresses learning and human development needs around the world. They focus on distance education in dissimilar settings that extend beyond the limitations of the dominating paradigms of the highly developed economies. Contributing authors touch upon conceptual as well as practical issues. They critically reflect on both large- and small-scale distance education initiatives, discussing the use of everything from the most advanced technologies (e.g., 3-D computing) to the most rudimentary technologies (e.g., wind-up radios).

This work provides overviews and summaries of the research and practice of distance education in the USA. It addresses such questions as how distance education is best practised at the level of the teacher, as well as the administrator.

The second edition of this award-winning book continues the mission of its predecessor, to provide a comprehensive compendium of research in all aspects of distance education, arguably the most significant development in education over the past quarter century. While the book deals with education that uses technology, the focus is on teaching and learning and how its management can be facilitated through technology. This volume will be of interest to anyone engaged in distance education at either the K-12 or college level. It is also appropriate for corporate and government trainers and for administrators and policy makers in all these environments.