Distance Education: Rethinking Practices, Implementing New Approaches

Some institutions of higher education, particularly universities, are well known for their resistance to change. They have been described in the literature as medieval institutions, notwithstanding the opportunities to undergo significant transformation using the enabling technology. Someone remarked that it is easier to move the family graveyard than to make a major change in the tradition-driven university. Nevertheless, distance education programs are in vogue at nearly all types of institutions making up the higher education arena. Distance education also is known as distance learning or extended campus. Generally speaking, the phenomenon refers to the various aspects of providing postsecondary instruction away from the traditional college or university campus. One can find universities offering distance education programs at various locations throughout the world. Technology has permitted instruction to be delivered anywhere on the planet if the necessary telecommunication infrastructure is in place. The quality of programs falling under the distance education rubric has been—and continues to be—a major concern. And the provision of sufficient library resources is a part of the “concern equation.” The transmittal of intellectual resources via technology is easing the concern factor somewhat.