As online learners are increasingly diverse, making online learning more inclusive becomes an urgent need. Universal design has been perceived as a viable framework to reach the widest possible range of learners. However, applying universal design to online education has been a challenge to instructors due to different barriers. It is also unclear…

In this paper, we report the major themes we identified in the literature surrounding flexible learning that has been published in "Distance Education" over the last 40 years. We identified six themes: the qualities of flexibility as affording "anytime, anyplace" learning; flexibility as pedagogy; liberatory or service-oriented…

This article presents a synthesis of reports and research on K-12 blended teaching competencies compared with K-12 online teaching competencies. The skills needed to teach in online and blended environments are distinct from traditional teaching, but teacher education programs often do not equip preservice teachers for the new modes of…

This article maps out trends in distance education research and scholarship from 35 years of publications in the "Distance Education" journal. Titles and abstracts of 515 full papers were analyzed using the text-mining tool Leximancer™ to identify and describe themes in distance education research covered by these publications in the…

Reviews research on the cognitive and affective processes engaged in by learners as they read which determine reading effectiveness and addresses implications of findings for college level study skills instruction, particularly remedial instruction of distance learners. Suggested features of a study skills program, its presentation, and program…

Reviews general principles of adult learning; describes nature of the adult learner as suggested by the current literature; provides suggestions for the design of learning programs for adults; and reviews the implications of accepting ideas about motivation derived from adult learning theories for colleges and staff engaged in correspondence…

Explores some recent theory and research developments on the role and character of television, and its impact on learning in distance education. The implications for learning of distributional and social, control, and symbolic (audiovisual) characteristics of television are discussed. Fifteen references and an outline of television applications…

Examines some traditional instructional strategies used to improve textual materials for learning at a distance, including advance organizers, overviews, pretests, objectives, and inserted questions, together with devices in typography and graphics. Research in each area is reviewed and guidelines are given for using each strategy. An extensive…

Identifies factors facilitating and impeding the development of eight print-based distance education undergraduate courses designed by Syracuse University's Center for Instructional Development for U.S. Marines stationed in Saudi Arabia, including course definition, faculty perception of student abilities, textbook selection, faculty/developer…