Discusses the debate about conversation and dialog in distance education, based on the premise that if a course consistently represents a communication process that has the characteristics of a conversation, then the students will be more motivated and more successful than if it has an impersonal textbook character. (LRW)

Reviews research on distance education methodologies and discusses the need for additional research to improve the quality of distance education. Highlights include categories of learning behavior and understanding the learning process; promoting deep learning; finding out how students really learn; and information and communication technology.…

Presents a theory of distance education to demonstrate its potential, based on a discussion of the concept of theory in general. Topics include the scope of a theory of distance education, generating hypotheses, descriptive elements and testable hypotheses generated, and the potential and applicability of the theory suggested. (71 references) (LRW)

Examines the evolution of the character and practice of distance education through a historical explanation of early distance education, and a review of early distance education pioneers. Addresses 20th-century developments in distance education, 20th-century distance education target groups, and discusses the need to understand the role of…