Reflections on Teaching and Learning in an Online Master Program: A Case Study

Abstract

"Presents the Master of Distance Education (MDE) program jointly offered by the University of Maryland University College and Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. The MDE was launched in January 2000 and is offered completely online. Faculty from three continents and more than 500 students from 12 different countries joined the MDE community within its first three years. The mission of the MDE is to qualify present and future managers of distance education. Given that distance education - and e-learning - have expanded so rapidly in the past few years in both public and private education, as well as in the training sectors, the program educates the multitude of new managers and future leaders necessary in this field. These managers need to be qualified as leaders since they will be required to be active advocates for distance education and training in their organizations and need to manage significant change processes that affect the entire organization."--Page 4 of cover. The online Master of Distance Education (MDE) : its history and realization / Ulrich Bernath & Eugene Rubin -- Moderating a virtual seminar--reflections on first practical experience / Otto peters -- Texts that talk back--asynchronous conferencing : a possible form of academic discourse? / Thomas Hülsmann -- Learning or lurking? Tracking the 'invisible' online student / Michael F. Beaudoin -- Computer support of distance education, particularly online teaching and learning / Börje Holmberg -- Support services for online faculty : the provider and the user perspectives / Jane E. Brindley, Olaf Zawacki & Judy Roberts -- Costs without camouflage / Thomas Hülsmann -- Experiencing a new paradigm--elements, aspects, and structure of selected courses in the MDE program / Christine Walti -- Experiences, observations, and applications : a student's personal account of the MDE program / Brian F. Fox -- Assessing student needs in an online graduate program / Linda J. Smith -- Distance learning : learning on demand and just in time / Susanne Offenbartl.