Book Description
The innovations in computer and communications technologies combined with on-going needs to deliver education programs to students regardless of their physical locations, have lead to the innovation of distance education programs and technologies. To keep up with recent developments in both areas of technologies and techniques related to distance education programs, educators, administrators, and researchers are in constant needs of learning about issues, solutions, and challenges of these technologies. The Encyclopedia of Distance Learning offers the most comprehensive coverage of the issues, concepts, trends, and technologies of distance learning. Hundreds of international contributors have provided extensive coverage of topics such as workforce training, accessing education, digital divide, and the evolution of distance and online education into a multibillion dollar enterprise, which has been thoroughly examined in this 4-volume set encyclopedia. Each volume is edited by a leading international expert(s) with a long list of contributions focusing on the theme of the volume. This authoritative 4-volume encyclopedia is considered the foremost reference source for the latest understanding, discoveries, and research in the field of distance learning.

About the Author
Patricia L. Rogers, PhD, is a Professor at Bemidji State University in the department of Professional Education, with doctoral preparation in both Art Education and Instructional Systems and Technology. She is on several state level committees and is a consultant for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities’ Office of Instructional Technology where she recently served as the interim system director. Dr. Rogers is a Getty Fellow (Dissertation Fellowship from the Getty Center for Arts Education) and a Fulbright Scholar (2000-2001) working on designing distance learning programs. She consults internationally on e-learning, is the author of several articles on instructional technology, and regularly presents at technology and art education conferences. She was the keynote speaker at UT 2001, a technology and education conference held in Reykjavik, Iceland. Gary A. Berg, Ph.D., is currently Director of Extended Education and Distance Learning for California State University, Channel Islands. He has worked in higher education for many years as an administrator and was Director of Extended Education at Chapman University. Dr. Berg has developed many distance learning format courses and programs, been interviewed for numerous national publications, and consulted for educational and government organizations on the use of distance learning. He is author of Why Distance Learning? And over twenty articles on higher education and the use of technology in education. Prof. Berg is the editor of the book "The Knowledge Medium: Designing Effective Computer-Based Learning Environment", 2003, Information Science Publishing. Mary Hricko Ph.D., is an Associate Professor, Library & Media Services at Kent State University. She is currently the library director at the KSU Geauga Campus where she provides curricular support and technology training for faculty, staff, and students. She has participated in training programs at the Center for Distance Learning Research at Texas A&M and holds a certification in distance education administration. In addition to her research in Web accessibility, information literacy, and instructional technologies, she has published several articles and presented several papers on the role of academic support services in distance education. Prof. Hricko is the editor of the book "Design and Implementation of Web-Enabled Teaching Tools", 2003, Information Science Publishing. Caroline Howard is on the faculty of the Goizueta Business School of Emory University where she teaches in the Decision Information area. She has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD from University of California, Irvine. She researches, consults and publishes in the areas of distance education, electronic commerce and telecommuting. Prof. Howard is the co-editor of two books "The Design & Management of Effective Distance Learning Programs", 2002, Information Science Publishing, and the book "Distance Learning and University Effectiveness", 2004, Information Science Publishing.

FROM THE PUBLISHER