Distance Education in International Contexts: Planning and Management Imperatives
Abstract
This paper analyzes global changes taking place in distance learning, concerning organizational structure, program structure, and global learning community, as also the developments and diversities within distance learning.These have been reflected upon in contexts of flexible learning, blended learning and such other developments. A case for holistic planning is proposed; and management imperatives of placement of distance learning in organizational management, decision-making, technology deployment for teaching and learning, cost, faculty workload, legitimacy of distance learning, and quality assessment and accreditation have been discussed. The discussion underlines the developments and diversities within ‘distance education’, the global concerns for reform and change, the challenges facing the field as well as educational and training organizations, and addresses some of the management imperatives that distance education confronts today.
SOURCE: Indian Journal of Open Learning
