When I have a few spare moments I enjoy browsing the shelves in the Library Media Center (LMC) to find journals relevant to teaching and learning. The journals are on the first floor just to the left of the stairs as you enter the library. I discovered New Directions for Higher Education, a Jossey-Bass (Wiley Brand) publication. Each volume contains an edited collection of current articles addressing various aspects developments in higher education.
Because it is so relevant to what we do in the eLearning Center, I selected Number 179, Spring 2016 on the topic of Issues in Distance Education and read several of the articles. I was most engaged by the concept of structure and transactional distance as described by Dr. Farhad Saba, professor Emeritus of Educational Technology at San Diego State University, in “Theories of Distance Education: Why They Matter.” Dr. Saba is a specialist in instructional technology and makes a case for applying technology to create adaptive learning designed to respond to a student’s need for structure, dialogue, and autonomy. However, he is also realistic and acknowledges that faculty are often too busy to become experts in instructional technology and places responsibility for instructional redesign on the entire institution. His article raised some interesting questions about how we can work together to distinguish BC as a leader in online education.
To read more about Issues in Distance Education check out Number 179 Spring 2016 New Directions in Higher Education. Peruse other volumes on the shelf to find collections on other issues relevant to higher education.
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Last Updated February 27, 2017