News and Notes

Dean Edelson to Present Paper at Distance Learning Conference in Indonesia

Dean Edelson attended the 24th Annual International Conference on Distance Education (ICDE), October 2- 5, 2011, hosted by the Universitas Terbuka of Indonesia, Bali. In addition to presenting a paper, he also moderated a panel discussion on "Online Distance Learning (ODL) in a Changing World." Dean Edelson's paper is titled "Supply and Demand Factors in Distance Education: Unanticipated Consequences."

From the abstract:

"The success of ODL is unique in the way it is has quickly transformed the culture of education at every level. While it may have been assumed, based upon historical precedents, that ODL would exist complementary with other educational modalities, it now appears that with respect to programs of study closely articulated with continuing career development that ODL may entirely supplant the conventional, face-to-face model. This is based upon student demand and the increased institutional capacity to meet these needs."

According to Dean Edelson, "The paper explores a number of the key issues raised by what appears to be the inexorable growth of ODL and the choices educators may be compelled to face in the light of the economics of supply and demand and their own educational values. Simply put, are face-to-face courses worth preserving?"

» Read a draft of the full text of the paper (PDF)