Summary
There can be an untethered excitement connected with ever-expanding technologies and the vastness of educational opportunities that online learning generates. Yet, these new and exciting opportunities do not diminish the real-life concerns and issues that online professors face. Lack of planning often sets the stage for disastrous educational experiences. Problems with technology, the lack of professor guidance and the inability to build community, facilitate communication or humanize learning can sabotage educational efforts. Minimal or nonexistent evaluation can lead to a recycling of futile educational efforts in future online courses. Yet, you can circumvent these issues with proper planning-with the use of distance education plans
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Council on Education (1996). Guiding principles for distance learning in a learning society. Washington, DC.
Arbaugh, J. B. (2001). How instructor immediacy behaviors affect student satisfaction and learning in a web-based course.Business Communication Quarterly, 56, 42–54.
Arone, M. (2002, May 10). Many students’ favorite professors shun distance education: They use technology in the classroom, but refuse to give up face-to-face interaction.The Chronicle of Higher Education, 48(35), A39-A40.
Belanger, F., & Jordan, D. H. (2000).Evaluation and implementation of distance learning: Technologies, tools, and techniques. Hershey, PA: Idea Group.
Berlo, D. (1960)The process of communication. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston Inc.
Brookfield, S. (1995).Becoming a critically reflective teacher. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Cyrs, T. E. (1997). Competence in teaching at a distance. In T. E. Cyrs (Ed.),Teaching and learning at a distance: What it takes to effectively design, deliver, and evaluate programs. New directions for teaching and learning, No. 71. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Dewey, J. (1916).Democracy and education. New York: Macmillan.
Dillon, C. L, & Walsh, S. M. (1992). Faculty: The neglected resource in distance education.The American Journal of Distance Education, 6(3), 5–21.
Dooley, K. E., Van Laanen, P. G., & Fletcher, R. D. (1999). Food safety instructor training using distance education. Journal of Extension, 37. Retrieved May 10, 2004, from http://www.joe. org/joe/1999june/a5.html
DuCharme-Hansen, B.A. & Dupin-Bryant, P.A. (2004).Web-based distance education for adults. Melbourne, FL.: Krieger Publishing.
Farmer, J. (1997). Using technology. In J. Gaff, J. Ratcliff, & Associates (Eds.),Handbook of the undergraduate curriculum (pp. 478–492). San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Gabelnick, E, MacGregor, J., Matthews, R., & Smith, B. (Eds.). (1990).Learning communities: creating connections among students, faculty, and disciplines. New directions for teaching and learning, No. 41. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Galbraith, M. W., Sisco, B. R., & Guglielmino, L. M. (1997).Administering successful programs for adults: Promoting excellence in adult, community, and continuing education. Malabar, FL: Krieger.
Gardner, H. (2000).The disciplined mind. New York: Penguin.
Granger, D., & Bowman, M. (2003). Constructing knowledge at a distance: The learner in context. In M. G. Moore & W. G. Anderson (Eds.),Handbook of distance education (pp. 169–180). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
King, K. P. (1998). Course development on the world wide web. In B. Cahoon (Ed.),Adult learning and the internet. New directions for adult and continuing education, No. 78, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Knowles, M. S., Elwood, F. H., III,&, Swanson, R. A. (1998).The adult learner: The definitive classic in adult education and human resource development (5th ed.). Houston, TX: Gulf.
Kouki, R. (1997). Telelearning via the internet.Dissertation Abstracts International, 36 (04), 0898. (University Microfilms No. AAG MQ26338).
Lindeman, E. C. (1961).The meaning of adult education. Norman, OK: Oklahoma Research Center.
Moore, M. G., & Kearsley, G. (1996).Distance education: A systems view. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
O’Banion, T. (1997).A learning college of the 21st century. American Council on Education, Series on Higher Education. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press.
Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (1999).Building learning communities in cyberspace: Effective strategies for the online classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Pike, B., & Solem, L. (2000).50 creative training openers and energizers: Innovative ways to start your training with a bang! San Francisco: Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer.
Richardson, J. C, & Swan, K. (2003). Examining social presence in online courses in relation to students’ perceived learning and satisfaction.Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 7, 68–88.
Rodriguez, J. I., Plax, T. G., & Kearney, P. (1996). Clarifying the relationship between teacher nonverbal immediacy and student cognitive learning: Affective learning as the central causal mediator.Communication Education 45(4), 293–305.
West, E. (2000).The big book of icebreakers: Quick, fun activities for energizing meetings and workshops. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Wolcott, L. (1996). Distant, but not distanced: A learner-centered approach to distance education.TechTrends, 41(5), 23–27.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DuCharme-Hansen, B.A., Dupin-Bryant, P.A. Distance education plans: Course planning for online adult learners. TECHTRENDS TECH TRENDS 49, 31–39 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02773969
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02773969