Experts Available to Discuss Distance Learning in Elementary, High Schools

Business Wire, March 7, 2005

TOPIC: A study from the Education Department found distance learning is gaining popularity for elementary and high school students, according to an article by The Associated Press. The federal study found students in 36 percent of the school districts in the United States took courses over the Internet or via video conferences during the 2002-03 school year. Some schools offer online classes when they do not have a teacher onsite who specializes in the subject.

EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Having taught thousands of students and trained hundreds of teachers in hundreds of schools, Steve Peha is well-qualified to provide insightful commentary and thoughtful opinions on the state of education in America, including teacher quality and retention, best-practice instruction, testing and No Child Left Behind. An avid researcher, he also can speak authoritatively on current best practices, how kids learn and what teaching methods are truly effective. His combination of in-school work with teachers and kids, a real-world orientation from his years as an entrepreneur, and in-depth investigation of education issues and current research enable him to offer an informed and unique perspective on what we're doing right -- and wrong -- in education in America. His straightforward views undercut the prevailing wisdom and get right to the heart of what matters. "The thing we have to be careful about is thinking that distance learning is "just like" classroom learning minus the classroom. It's not. For example, distance learning is great if the learning goal is merely the transfer of knowledge. If all you want to do is get new product information out to your sales force, or help a bunch of high school kids get ready for the SAT Verbal test, distance learning is fine. Distance learning is less effective if the goal involves getting people to change behaviors. You can't, for example, use distance learning effectively to improve the way your sales force interacts with marketing and operations. And you can't teach kids to write as well through distance learning as you can through classroom learning because of the social nature of the task. Of course, in situations where the quality of teaching is poor, or the classroom climate is inhospitable, learning from a distance could be a relief," Peha says.

Professor Robert Main, of California State University, Chico, can share his expertise regarding learning technologies, curriculum development, distance learning and performance analysis.

Professor Kevin Meehan, of the University of Central Florida, English Department, has 12 years' experience in teaching. He has developed and delivered courses via distance learning, incorporating live video conferencing, web enhancements, and email chat rooms.

ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.

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