| Online education will play a major role in the future | | | | of states significant appropriations are being made |
| of postsecondary education in America. Colleges | | | | to develop infrastructures for distance learning. |
| and universities are scrambling to be aboard, and | | | | The question that will be asked is, "if distance |
| state legislatures, with long-term economy in | | | | programs are expensive to develop, and if all of |
| mind, are making major commitments of support. | | | | our sites are tied together, why not have one |
| There are, however, many hurdles before viable | | | | organization that delivers these services |
| cost-effective/learning-effective online education | | | | statewide." Colleges and universities need to |
| programs are in common use. At this point, the | | | | prepare to answer that question.o Will funds |
| majority of programs is simply an extension of | | | | become available to develop quality learning |
| passive lecture or lecture discussion through | | | | software that uses the full capability of |
| electronic means. Few institutions understand the | | | | information technology? To date, substantial state |
| economies of these programs, nor have they | | | | appropriations for online education have gone for |
| faced the structural changes that are required. As | | | | infrastructure, equipment and networks. While |
| important, institutions have not understood the | | | | these are useful, there is real question as to the |
| quality and accessibility of programs that will be | | | | need for these expenditures. There are so many |
| needed to meet the challenge from private sector | | | | networks (for example, the Internet) available to |
| initiatives. | | | | use. Important advancements in learning can be |
| "You Can't Predict the Future But You Can Plan | | | | made if significant appropriations are shifted to |
| for It" | | | | learning software. This software should use the |
| The following are ten important questions | | | | full capabilities of information technology and the |
| concerning the future of distance learning:o Will | | | | research on adult learning.o How will learning be |
| faculty adapt? The pay isn't great, but the job of | | | | certified? In the United States each institution |
| a full-time faculty member is really very nice. By | | | | basically makes its own decisions with regard to |
| tradition a faculty member controls his own work; | | | | what learning will be credited. Very often decisions |
| functions independently; gets to perform by | | | | are based on a well entrenched "not invented |
| lecturing; and has adequate time for study, | | | | here" syndrome. As increasing numbers of |
| reflection and interaction with stimulating | | | | individuals register for courses and learn through a |
| colleagues. The use of technology in education, | | | | wide array of institutions, there will be a demand |
| and particularly in distance learning, requires | | | | from the public for that learning to be assessed |
| cooperation, teamwork, performing a role in an | | | | and credited toward degrees and certificates.o |
| organized structure, more effort in design than in | | | | Can colleges keep their certification monopoly? |
| delivery, and less self-directed time. Quite simply, | | | | The strongest cards that colleges and universities |
| it is counter-culture for faculty. Will sufficient | | | | hold in competing with private organizations in |
| numbers of faculty adjust to permit institutions to | | | | online education are prestige and certification |
| design and deliver educational services in new | | | | control. To keep the certification monopoly. |
| ways?o Will online education grow through shadow | | | | Colleges and universities are going to have to |
| colleges? In many instances, rather than face the | | | | work with other organizations and be considerably |
| obstacles presented by traditional faculty, the | | | | more accommodating in recognizing learning that |
| existing work rules, union contracts, and faculty | | | | was not provided by their institution.o How will |
| attitude, many institutions have created new | | | | on-campus and distance use of technology |
| organizations outside of the basic institution. These | | | | integrate? Much present online education is simply |
| organizations have new salary schedules, reward | | | | the extension of the lecture classroom to |
| systems and work policies. Will this be the only | | | | distance locations. But, there are few examples of |
| way that colleges can restructure? Can these | | | | the instructional software designed for distance |
| organizations exist within traditional institutions?o | | | | coming back into use on campus. Materials that |
| Will college administrations adopt new, more | | | | are developed that are time and place |
| sophisticated planning and/or management | | | | independent. As well as time variable. Can be used |
| systems? While it will be difficult for faculty to | | | | on campus with the addition of more interaction |
| adapt to new delivery arrangements, it will also be | | | | with college staff. This would provide new options |
| difficult for administration. In educational budgets, | | | | for students and increase student volume. Thus |
| management has typically been concerned with | | | | providing more capability for greater expenditures |
| only three variables -- classrooms, mean class size | | | | on development of quality educational software.o |
| and professors. The use of information | | | | How can we substitute for the inspiration of |
| technology and online education introduces a | | | | personal interaction with faculty members? In all |
| myriad of new cost elements that have to be | | | | of my years at Miami-Dade Community College, I |
| worked into the basic cost structure. New and | | | | never received a letter complementing a college |
| more sophisticated planning/management systems | | | | program without reference to a faculty member |
| must be put into place, or the new arrangements | | | | or other staff member who had inspired or |
| will simply cost more and will not be practical to | | | | contributed to the development of the writer. |
| initiate.o Will state bureaucracies establish a single | | | | Almost all of us can point to an individual, very |
| online education institution? It is no secret that in | | | | often a faculty member, who had major impact |
| recent years state legislatures and bureaucracies | | | | on our lives. Is there a way to keep that |
| have increased their control and decision-making | | | | inspiration in an online education situation? Is there |
| with regard to public higher education. In a number | | | | something to be substituted? |