This monograph focuses on the research on online learning. It is oriented toward exploring the specific intricacies of learning over the Web. Some very good studies of online learning using the Web are reviewed. The chapters are: (1) "The Explosion of Distance Education"; (2) "The Significance of 'No Significance'"; (3) "Research Basics"; (4) "Research on Technology and Students"; (5) "Research on Faculty and Institutions"; (6) "The Pursuit of Guidelines"; and (7) "Advice to the Confused." (Contains 1 figure, 1 table, and 311 references.) (SLD).

Distance Learning and University Effectiveness: Changing Educational Paradigms for Online Learning addresses the challenges and opportunities associated with information and communication technologies (ICTs) as related to education. From discussing new and innovative educational paradigms and learning models resulting from ICTs to addressing future student needs and international issues, this book provides comprehensive coverage of the paradigm, teaching, technology and other changes that may be required of universities to remain in the new competitive marketplace of online learning.

This book presents a collection of different researches and results on "e-learning". The chapters cover the deficiencies, requirements, advantages and disadvantages of e-learning and distance learning. So, the authors reported their research and analysis results on "e-learning" according to their areas of expertise.

Online Distance Education: Towards a Research Agenda offers a systematic overview of the major issues, trends, and areas of priority in online distance education research. In each chapter, an international expert or team of experts provides an overview of one timely issue in online distance education, summarizing major research on the topic, discussing theoretical insights that guide the research, posing questions and directions for future research, and discussing the implications for distance education practice as a whole. Intended as a primary reference and guide for distance educators, researchers, and policymakers, Online Distance Education addresses aspects of distance education practice that have often been marginalized, including issues of cost and economics, concerns surrounding social justice, cultural bias, the need for faculty professional development, and the management and growth of learner communities. At once soundly empirical and thoughtfully reflective, yet also forward-looking and open to new approaches to online and distance teaching, this text is a solid resource for researchers in a rapidly expanding discipline.

"This book provides higher education administration and faculty members with a guide for quality assurance in distance education programs. It also examines the building of a quality online program, thereby providing the field with a practical guide to creating a quality online program, as experienced by actual practitioners in the field"--

The third edition of this award-winning Handbook continues the mission of its predecessors: to provide a comprehensive compendium of research in all aspects of distance education, arguably the most significant development in education over the past three decades. 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. Key features include: Comprehensive coverage that includes all aspects of distance education, including design, instruction, management, policy, and a section on different audiences. Chapter authors frame their topic in terms of empirical research (past and present) and discuss the nature of current practice in terms of that research. Future research needs are discussed in relation to both confirmed practice and recent changes in the field. Section one provides a unique review of the theories that support distance education pedagogy. Section six includes a unique review of distance education as a component of global culture. This book will be of interest to anyone engaged in distance education at any level. It is also appropriate for corporate and government trainers and for administrators and policy makers in all these environments. Recipient of the 2013 IAP Distance Education Book Award

The delivery of quality education to students relies heavily on the actions of an institution’s administrative staff. Effective leadership strategies allow for the continued progress of modern educational initiatives. It is crucial to investigate how effective administrators lead their organizations in challenging and difficult times and promote the accomplishments of their organization. Research Anthology on Preparing School Administrators to Lead Quality Education Programs is a vital reference source that offers theoretical and pedagogical research concerning the management of educational systems on both the national and international scale. It also explores academic administration as well as administrative effectiveness in achieving organizational goals. Highlighting a range of topics such as strategic planning, human resources, and school culture, this multi-volume book is ideally designed for educators, administrators, principals, superintendents, board members, researchers, academicians, policymakers, and students.

As with everything that experiences growth, distance learning too has seen its share of opportunities and challenges, whether they be from the improper implementation of technology, poor structuring of learning activities for distance learners, lack of sufficient legislation protecting the rights of learners, or simply inadequate funding for the proper training of distance trainers and teachers. There are many titles on the market today that discuss distance learning, its challenges and opportunities, with many specializing in one small area, such as technology application or instructional design, etc. In this book, a broader view of distance learning is offered, allowing perspectives about distance learning, its potential, its challenges, and specific outcomes of some distance learning implementation to be voiced, thus providing the reader with a broader perspective on the topic. This book is an anthology of diverse topics that surround the central theme of distance learning, and it is presented as an interesting collection of reviews, perspectives of practice, and research on and about distance learning. The book encompasses various levels of writing, but as a whole, it is aimed at all reading levels, from the casual reader wanting to understand more about what distance learning involves, to the aspiring distance learner or distance learning instructor/administrator wanting to delve a bit deeper into the best practices for appropriate use of technology, pedagogy, or instructional design, to the lifelong learner wanting to engage in continuous self-improvement via this easily accessible mode of learning.

As more postsecondary faculty become engaged in designing online learning environments, research conducted on distance education program quality becomes increasingly important. Measurements in Distance Education is a concise, well-organized guide to some of the many instruments, scales, and methods that have been created to assess distance education environments, learners, and teachers. Entries are organized according to the qualities these measures attempt to gauge—such as engagement and information retention—and provide summaries of each instrument, usage information, the history of its development, and validation, including any reported psychometric properties. Offering more than 50 different surveys, tests, and other metrics, this book is an essential reference for anyone interested in understanding distance education assessment.