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Distance
Education Technologies
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Mediums
of Delivery
New digital technologies have enabled distance education to become much
more interactive and collaborative compared to earlier methods of distance
learning. The Internet allows students and faculty to interact more through
chat rooms, threaded discussion groups, instant messenger, webcasts, and
e-mail. In many cases, interaction among students and faculty, as well
as student/student interaction is actually increased through online education
media.
Technologies
used to deliver distance education can be divided into four categories:
print, video, audio (voice), and computer (data). Each medium and the
technologies used are described below:
Print
Print is a foundational element of distance education programs and the
basis from which all other delivery systems have evolved. Various print
formats are available including: textbooks, fax, study guides, workbooks,
course syllabi, and case studies.
Voice/Audio
Instructional audio tools include the interactive technologies of telephone, audio conferencing, voicemail, radio, and audiotape. Passive (one-way) audio tools include tapes and radio.
© Copyright 2003 by Kathy Keairns