The future of distance learning technology: It's not about the technology and it's not about the distance

Abstract

In this conceptual chapter, I argue that technologies will continue to become smaller, faster, and more powerful, allowing distance- and technology-enhanced learning many new affordances. In order to be effective, the focus should remain on learning and not on technology nor on the distance in space, time, language, and culture that may separate learners and instructors. Of course, all of those are relevant to effective designs for distance learning, but what is essential is the learning. A specific example involving digital engineering will be used to illustrate the possibilities and pitfalls of advanced distance learning environments.