Distance Education (What Works Well) - 9780789022882

Don’t start from scratch! Learn what works—and what doesn’t—in providing education to off-campus students!

This unique compilation presents practical advice on how to set up distance learning programs that effectively serve the needs of students who don’t have access to the campus. The book examines issues surrounding development, implementation, teacher training, time management, and other important aspects of distance education. Distance Education: What Works Well brings you lessons garnered from real-life experiences at several institutions to help you explore the pros and cons of distance education—and what it takes to implement a distance program that really works.

In the first half of Distance Education: What Works Well you’ll examine:

• the development of a digital high school—from the early stages through “rookie camp” experiences
• practical recommendations on how to design successful online high school programs
• what has worked well—and what has not—in terms of distance education in the rural K-12 environment
• the successful and not-so-successful aspects of an innovative distance education project that encourages collaboration between high schools and middle schools

The second half of this informative book presents practical advice to help you set up distance learning programs that make the most of available technology. You’ll learn:

• how to train faculty to effectively use distance education techniques
• the importance of student-teacher and student-student interaction in a distance education setting—and how to build active online communities that keep students and faculty in touch
• the roles and functions of moderators in online education—and the skills they need to be effective
• six effective tactics designed to optimize online time
• how to decide whether distance education is the right choice for you