Distance education course developers must consider how to present information to distance learners, how to communicate with the students, and how to apply technologies that will promote effective and efficient learning. Generally, technologies used for distance education fall into two categories: 1) classroom technologies used to record, present, and display instructional information; and 2) telecommunications technologies used to connect instructors and distance learners.

 

Although analyzing the instructional goal, the instructional context, learners, and the instructional content can help course developers to select appropriate technological tools, distance educators should also know the basic features of distance education delivery methods. The advantages and the disadvantages of the major distance education delivery methods are listed in the following table as a reference for course development (Distance Education and Training Council).   

 

Delivery Methods

Advantages

Disadvantages

Printed Materials

·         Relatively inexpensive

·         Portable

·         No need for additional equipment to access the material

·         Information easily retrievable

 

·         Distributed by mail or retaining network, causing delay in receipt

·         Material may be dated

·         Unable to give direct feedback or to ask he author questions

Videotape / DVD

·         Portable

·         Grabs attention

·         Easy to review

·         Able to provide information hard to present in textbooks

 

·         Requires a VCR or DVD player

·         Distributed by mail or retaining network, causing delay in receipt

·         Tends to be lecture-style presentation which can be boring

·         Time-consuming and expensive to produce segments

 

Audiotapes

·         Less costly than video

·         Downloadable from the Internet

·         Can be coordinated with textbook or related articles

·         Lack visual component

·         File may be quite large and slow to download

Videoconferencing

·         Live, two-way communication with instructor and other students

·         Uses motion and audio

·         Very expensive

·         Requires access to special classroom

·         Needs high-end systems for adequate video quality

·         Needs to log on at specific time

 

Streaming Video

·         Maintains student’s attention

·         Can be reviewed many times

·         Easily updated without dubbing tapes

·         Less time-consuming than video

·         Usually lecture-style presentation which can be boring

·         Needs careful planning on the part of the instructor

·         Needs current computer and fast Internet connection on the part of the student

·         Can be visually uneven and out of sync

Interactive CDROM /

Interactive PC Software

·         Self-paced

·         Provides information focused on skills

·         Students can apply information in exercises

·         Immediate distribution of software on the Internet

 

·         Students must buy the software and know how to use it

·         Student may print out material anyway

 

Interactive Websites

·         Communication with other students in your field

·         Contact with a variety of teachers & teaching styles

·         May distract students from required coursework

Website Articles

·         Unlimited access to information

·         Students can learn and practice research skills

·         Information may not be accurate or reliable

Electronic Mail

·         Easy to use and access, inexpensive

·         Access to Listservs that provide focused email discussions

·         Convenient access to instructor

·         Requires access to computer

·         Some technical knowledge is required

·         Extra time needed to review messages generated by discussion lists

Bulletin Boards /

Chat Sessions

·         Online communication with instructor and other students

·         Closest thing to a traditional classroom meeting

·         Can be synchronous or asynchronous

·         Can be accessed through the Internet

 

·         Limited communication

·         Requires rapid and accurate typing skills

Guest Speaker

·         Guest speakers can hold a synchronous chat session, post a lecture, or be available for a certain number of days to answer questions

·         Students can be exposed to real-world situations in their fields of study

 

·         Guest speakers must be able to commit to the time involved

·         Guest speaker must have rapid, accurate typing skills