The role of educational media and technology personnel in the development of distance education curriculum is the focus of this fact sheet. The definition and background of distance education are briefly described as nontraditional education involving communication between teachers and learners by such means as correspondence, radio, and television. Major characteristics and assets of distance education include: (1) increased continuing education opportunities for those unable to attend conventional courses; (2) centrally coordinated information distribution and management; (3) a wide variety of faculty contributions such as assistance in the creation of materials and seminars; and (4) carefully designed and coordinated self-instructional materials and procedures. A variety of delivery systems are mentioned including newspapers, radio, television, course notebooks, textbooks, programmed instruction, pictures, audio cassettes, and lab kits and computers. Reference is made to popular publications used to design materials and procedures. The second part of the fact sheet lists relevant entries in the ERIC database followed by a general bibliography of relevant books and articles. (LH)