
Understanding Distance Education
A Framework for the Future
D.R. Garrison(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 30. April 2026
Book
Hardback
156 pages
978-1-041-26825-3 (ISBN)
Description
First published in 1989, Understanding Distance Education explores important issues surrounding distance education and provides a framework on which to build the future of distance education. The author begins with an analysis of education in general and the process that supports it, identifying two-way, interactive communication as a defining feature of the educational process. He shows that the unique challenge in distance education is finding appropriate and effective ways of supporting this kind of communication when contact between teachers and students is at a distance.
Using communication as a theme, Dr Garrison describes the technology of distance education, discusses the roles of distance education, and explores the interrelationship of adult and distance education. He looks at distance education organisations and gives an account of developments towards more open learning systems, developments which he believes will eventually guide the integration of distance and conventional education into an efficient system serving the educational needs of all learners.
Using communication as a theme, Dr Garrison describes the technology of distance education, discusses the roles of distance education, and explores the interrelationship of adult and distance education. He looks at distance education organisations and gives an account of developments towards more open learning systems, developments which he believes will eventually guide the integration of distance and conventional education into an efficient system serving the educational needs of all learners.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Postgraduate
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
399 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-041-26825-3 (9781041268253)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
04/2026
Taylor & Francis
€73.99
Available for download

E-Book
04/2026
Taylor & Francis
€73.99
Available for download
Person
D. Randy Garrison is Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary, Canada. He has published extensively on teaching and learning in distance, higher and adult education contexts.
Content
Foreword by Doug Shale Preface 1. The Modern Era 2. Education and Communication 3. Independence and Control 4. Educational Technology 5. Education by Correspondence 6. Teleconferencing 7. Computer Based Education 8. Instructional Technology 9. Adult and Distance Education 10. Organising for Distance Education 11. Conclusion