Critical Issues in Distance Education

1. Regulatory Subsystem

1.1. Strategic Planning

1.2. Needs Assessment

1.3. Program Development

1.4. Program Accreditation

1.5. Program Assessment

1.5.1. Program Review

1.6. Compliance with Standards

1.6.1. Compliance with Regulations

2. Student Subsystem

2.1. Ensures same access and support as F2F students

2.2. Provides as much information as possible online

2.3. Readily Accessible

2.3.1. Contact Information

2.3.2. Contacts for People

2.4. Services for students online

2.4.1. Self-Service

2.4.2. Personalized

2.5. Responses to Requests

2.5.1. Accurate Responses

2.5.2. Provided in Timely Manner

3. Course Subsystem

3.1. Instructional Development

3.1.1. Digital Media production

3.2. Licensing, Operation, and Maintenence

3.2.1. Course Management System

3.2.2. CMS

3.3. Web 2.0 tools

3.3.1. Use for Faculty

3.3.2. Use for Students

3.4. Training, Pedagogy, and Technical Support

3.5. Operation of Help Desk

3.5.1. 24/7

3.6. Ensures Courseware meets Standards

3.7. Individual course evaluation and follow up

4. Logistical Subsystem

4.1. Serious Lifelong Learners

4.2. Unique Teaching Styles

4.2.1. Experimental

4.2.2. Collaborative

4.3. Enjoyment of Upfront Conceptual Work

4.4. Skilled Group Process Facilitators

4.5. Make Expectations Explicit

4.6. Construct Evaluation/Assessment Schemes

4.7. Feedback

4.7.1. Detailed

4.7.2. Developmental

4.7.3. Given frequently