Distance education: expanding learning opportunities

Interest in and confusion regarding pros and cons of distance education (DE ) have increased at colleges and universities across the country. We review DE methodologies and examine issues and concerns related to teaching at a distance. Media for DE delivery include printed matter, projected graphical material, videotapes, World Wide Web, satellite, CD-ROM, and digital video disc, and each has different attributes and characteristics. We discuss po tential benefits of DE to colleges and universities, students, and faculty, and explore barriers to adoption of DE. Finally, we offer suggestions for faculty interested in developing distance education courses and for student s interested in taking these courses.