ERIC - Education Distance Education Digest

ERIC - Education Resources Information Center: " This digest explores media options as they relate to instructional design for distance education, because the function and design of each medium needs to be understood, if it is to lead to learning. It also describes other types of delivery media used in the history of distance learning before online learning programs: print, radio and telephone, audiotapes, and television. This digest examines how the computer has changed traditional offerings of distance education. The process of selecting appropriate media for learning at a distance and the emerging trend of the hybrid approach to teaching and learning at a distance and discusses common designs of hybrid courses are also described. The digest concludes with special considerations for distance learning: (1) determine your primary delivery approach (online or hybrid); (2) review the course outline to determine where media can be used to facilitate learning; (3) ascertain availability of student access to the media selected; and (4) locate appropriate resources to fit your objectives or plan to create them. Finally, a short list of Web resources on distance learning media is presented. (AEF)"