Online and distance education for a connected world
The many challenges of providing effective education online and remotely have been acknowledged, particularly by those who rapidly jumped into online and distance education during the Covid pandemic crisis. These modes of learning swept the world in response to the pandemic, presenting opportunities for large scale, inclusive, flexible and engaging learning.
This volume, edited by the University of London’s Centre for Online and Distance Education, addresses the practice and theory of online and distance education, building on knowledge and expertise developed in the University over some 150 years. The University is currently providing distance transnational education to around 45,000 students in more than 190 countries around the world.
Throughout the book, contributors explore important principles and highlight successful practices in areas including course design and pedagogy, online assessment, open education, inclusive practice, and enabling student voice. Case studies illustrate prominent issues and approaches. Together, the chapters offer current and future leaders and practitioners a practical, productive, practice- and theory-informed account of the present and likely future state of online and distance higher education worldwide.
At a reception co-sponsored by UCL Press to mark the official lunch of the new publication, Linda Amrane-Cooper, Director of CODE, said “It’s been a long journey to get here, interrupted by Covid, but the hard work of the authors and of the tremendous dedication of the editing team has been worthwhile. Learning at a distance and learning online are growing in scale and importance in higher education, especially after Covid-19 excluded about 1.37 billion learners and 60.2 million teachers from schools and classrooms worldwide.”
What our readers say
"The book provides much needed inspiration and support for those who wish to develop more flexible modes of delivery that capitalise on technological developments and increased demands for new ways of working and learning."
Professor Susannah Quinsee, VP Digital and Student Experience, City University of London
"It is brimming with ideas and examples from all sorts of practitioners and will be a great source of information and inspiration. Whatever your role in online and distance education, this exhaustive book has you covered."
Dr Cathy Elliott SFHEA, Vice Dean Education, Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences, UCL.
"The book is a must-read for policy-makers, university leaders and practitioners in all kinds of universities, even those who are not considering distance learning, because it points towards new possibilities for higher education providers who wish to engender a compassionate, competitive edge."
Professor Allison Littlejohn, Director of the UCL Knowledge Lab, Institute of Education and Society, UCL, London, UK
"All told, the book draws from a deep well of experience and extends that into thoughtful guidance for the future of digital learning."
Professor Jeff Grabill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education, University of Leeds
"This is an excellent and timely book. Chapters exploring topics including student voice, employability, inclusive practice, and academic development, make an important contribution applicable to learning in any setting."
Professor John Craig PhD, NTF, PFHEA, FRSA, PVC Education, Kingston University, London
How to obtain your copy
Published as an open access resource, the full text pdf (482 pages) can be downloaded at www.uclpress.co.uk/ConnectedWorld, or you can order a paperback or hardback copy from the same source.