Joann Alexander Brown
director of marketing and promotion,
School of Continuing Studies, IUB
Joann Alexander Brown
director of marketing and promotion,
School of Continuing Studies, IUB
"Distance learning is already widening the circle and drawing people into higher education -- a boon especially to working adults. Students may retrieve class materials from the Web, communicate online with work groups and participate in classes that include videoconferences and interactive TV. The convergence of phone, computer and TV will mean access from homes or workplaces."
Eugene Brancolini
director of educational services,
Radio/Television Services, IUB
"Distance education overcomes the barriers of location and time and demolishes barriers presented by physical, socioeconomic and sometimes even psychological challenges. It brings higher education to people when and where it is convenient rather than forcing them to quit jobs and uproot families to pursue educational goals."
Doris Blaney
professor and assistant dean of nursing,
IU Northwest
"We've been involved with distance education for years through IHETS. It has facilitated students who really want IU master of nursing degrees and can't go to Indianapolis. Now we are using V-NET by which students and teachers can see each other."
Jacqueline Caul
director of
off-campus programs,
IU South Bend
"Multi-institutional degrees, home and workplace classrooms, online skills training units and instant access to information will be commonplace. The challenge is to find ways to maintain the crucial dynamics of interactive group dialogue and the opportunity for questioning that are the foundation of the teaching/learning process."
James R. East
professor emeritus of communication studies,
dean emeritus of Weekend College, IUPUI
"Distance learning is ideal for students who are independent learners, well organized, self-disciplined, keep up with assignments, do not requiire much fact-to-face interaction with professors and who do not need regular prodding to keep up. However, distance learning courses are not for everyone. I estimate that not more than 10-12 percent of students should be in these courses."
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