1. Distance Education: Research Michael Simonson Program Professor Nova Southeastern University

4. "Finally, the most fundamental and most important characteristic of a profession is that the skills involved are founded upon a body of intellectual theory and research. Furthermore, this systematic theory is constantly being expanded by research."

5. Purpose of Research about Distance Education One purpose of research in distance education is to determine effective practices.

6. Equivalency Theory of Distance Education "The more equivalent the learning experiences of the distant learner are to the learning experiences of the traditional learner, the more equivalent are the learning outcomes."

8. Distance Education Research Characteristics anecdotal comparison studies lack of generalizability adult learners practitioner oriented anecdotal comparison studies lack of generalizability adult learners practitioner oriented

9. Research Conclusions Students value distance education but prefer traditional education. Distant learners learn as well as traditional learners Teaching effectiveness improves if it: –is carefully planned –uses structured note taking –uses visuals –is taught by trained teachers Students value distance education but prefer traditional education. Distant learners learn as well as traditional learners Teaching effectiveness improves if it: –is carefully planned –uses structured note taking –uses visuals –is taught by trained teachers

10. What Works – Distance Education Carefully planned instruction Structured note taking - interactive study guides Visualizations of concepts Less than 4 remote sites Almost anything that works in a regular classroom - if it is planned Carefully planned instruction Structured note taking - interactive study guides Visualizations of concepts Less than 4 remote sites Almost anything that works in a regular classroom - if it is planned

11. What Doesn't Work – Distance Education Poorly planned instruction Unstructured note-taking Talking head lectures More than 4 remote sites Almost everything, if it isn't planned carefully Poorly planned instruction Unstructured note-taking Talking head lectures More than 4 remote sites Almost everything, if it isn't planned carefully