Building for the future of educational telematics: Models, foundations andframeworks

Distance educators are relying increasingly upon telematic solutions to con nect with remote students. The authors argue that educators should have a s ound knowledge of the pedagogical applications of telematic technology and how it impacts upon the distance learner. This paper uses a construction an alogy to outline the basic building blacks of telematic learning delivery, and examines three key areas of implementation: theoretical frameworks, int egrative approaches, and benefits analysis. Current practice and research i nto distributed learning networks in rural South-West England are described and a range of telematic technologies are examined. The paper offers benef its analysis and evaluation of the effectiveness of these applications to d ifferent learning and teaching contexts.