This article is concerned with these two aspects of distance education: how it can change our approach to learning and how it can change us. Through the eyes of its potential we can navigate the long journey of addressing some of the educational problems that have plagued us since Sputnik and that have increasingly turned the American public into a group cynical about its own value in the world. At the same time, we can see in it our evolution toward a culture whose values, organizational principles, and sense of what it means to be educated and prepared for the tasks of living are undergoing a transformation at the most fundamental levels.
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References
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1. Interview on MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour, 4 May 1989.
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2. It is interesting to note that integration by busing was essentially an industrial-age version of distance education, moving people rather than information to achieve equity in educational opportunity.
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3. Patricia M. Lines, “An Overview of Home Instruction,”Phi Delta Kappan, Mar. 1987, pp. 510-517.
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4. Jason Ohler, “What's on Line for Educators,”Electronic Learning Magazine, 8(6):34-35 (Apr. 1989).
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5. Charles Wedemeyer, Learning at the Back Door (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1981), p. 39.
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6. Nancy Marlett, “Disc Removes Communication Barriers for Disabled People” (DISC professional package, 1989). Contact: DISCONTARIO, 182 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4K 1W5; telephone 416-963-9465; email to Ms. Marlett on BITNET at N_Marlett@VAX.ACS.OPEN.AC.UK.
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7. Victor Young, “CHATBACK—A Service for Young Computer Users” (News flier about ChatBack, 1989). Contact Mr. Young at Swadelands School, Lenham, England; email to Mr. Young on BITNET at VY@UKC.AC.UK.
8.
8. Stefan Fatsis, “Sisters Get Education as Family Roams Seas,”Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 1988.
9.
9. Jason Ohler, “Native Open Learning Network (NOLN)—Planning for Technology” (Report, prepared for the Knowledge Network of British Columbia, Mar. 1989).
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10. Moshe Cohen and Naomi Miyake, “A Worldwide Intercultural Network: Exploring Electronic Messaging for Instruction” (Report no. 8, Center for Human Information Processing, University of California, San Diego, 1985). Contact Margaret Riel at AT&T Long Distance Learning Network, P.O. Box 716, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920-0716; telephone 619-943-1314; email AT&T ID- IMRIEL or Compuserve ID- 76004,1007.
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11. Dixie Weiss, student project, foreign language department, Juneau Douglas High School, Juneau, AK. Email on BITNET: JTDLW1@ALASKA.
12.
12. Ohler, “What's on Line for Educators.”
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13. On-line conferencing and promotional material for the McGraw-Hill Information Exchange, 1987. Contact Lynne Schrum, telephone 503-345-8257, BITNET at LSCHRUM@OREGON.
14.
14. Proceedings of the Conference on Technology and Students at Risk (Bloomington: Agency for Instructional Technology, [1987]) p. 38.
