Study Guide 3

At the end of this session you should be able to:

1. Name sources of research information about distance education;

2. Cite several research findings that support the use of distance education;

3. Describe the variables that lend themselves to inquiry; and

4. State 2-3 questions about distance education that you would like to investigate.

Read :

• Simonson, et. al, Chapter 3
  
• The Executive Summary of What's the Difference? (handout)

Refer to: The Effects of Distance Learning: A Summary of the Literature (pp 1-45) and Coldeway, D. "Methodological Issues in Distance Education Research" in Moore, M. and Clark, G. Readings in Principles of Distance Education, Book #1 (pp 90-99) on reserve in the CMC.

http://www.uidaho.edu/evo/distglan.html,Guide #10

Focus Questions:

1. Why is it important to do research in distance education?

2. How can research findings be used?

3. Write 2-3 research questions using variables in the distance learning framework, and be ready to discuss them in class.

4. What are your conclusions to "What's the Difference?" With which ones do you agree? disagree? What are the follow-up questions?