An analysis of success and failures: Focusing on learner-content interactions for the next generation of distance education

Abstract

With each new technological innovation, we have added another layer of complexity on top of the existing classroom without seeking to redesign the very foundation on which the instruction is based. In this chapter, we will examine the lessons learned from past and present technologies to propose how to use both old and new technologies to refine and evolve the first four generations of distance education to design the next generation of distance education. In particular, we suggest that a self-regulated, individualized approach to the design of distance learning instruction should be considered. The design team approach includes a focus on designing course materials that emphasize the learner-content interactions using generative strategies.