Assume the role of a journalist who is reporting on the nature and process of a distance learning program. For this assignment, you will contact a distance education instructor (or instructional developer, or administrator) and interview that person (and perhaps a few students in the program as well). You will write up your "story" for "publication" in a newspaper.

This is NOT an evaluation of the program that you have selected to study; it is a complete description of a program that would help an uninitiated person to understand what is going on in that program. In selecting a distance education program to write about, consider one of the many distance learning programs at Florida State, a nearby community college, or State of Florida agencies. (Do not feel you are limited to distance programs in Florida.) The purpose of this assignment is to facilitate obtaining in-depth knowledge about a specific distance learning effort.

In writing your report, follow the guidelines presented below:

1. Describe the purpose/goals/objectives of the distance learning program.
2. Describe its official designation, e.g., course, curriculum, resource, training event.
3. Who (what institution) is the sponsoring body, i.e., the principal funding source?
4. Describe the target audience; how many have participated (completed) so far?
5. What motivates individuals to participate? (advancement, compulsory attendance, convenience, etc.)
6. What is the evidence of success thus far?
7. What are the major frustrations/problems faced?
8. What are the means of evaluation? (for both participants and program)
9. How is the program perceived by participants? Consider...
   • degree of interaction
   • frequency and quality of feedback
   • resources availability
   • personal contact with instructor; other participants