The Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education

ABSTRACT

Many diverse forces are motivating institutions of higher education, particularly business schools, to develop and deliver education via the Internet.  As higher education institutions explore this opportunity, the question of how courses and degree programs should be designed for effective delivery online via the Internet is a non-trivial concern and challenge.  To address this concern and challenge, this paper articulates, defines, and justifies a typology consisting of four types of online distance education that can be pursued by institutions of higher education.  The four online distance education types – Overview Model, Overview Model with Feedback, Technical-Skills Model, and Managerial Learning Model – can be differentiated along a number of content-related, delivery-related, and learning-related issues and have applicability at various educational levels.  In addition, the paper highlights and discusses five key lessons for institutions to consider in their desire to launch online distance education initiatives.  These lessons provide insights not only for launch success but also for the ongoing sustainability of online distance education.

KEY WORDS:            Online education, Distance education, Typology