Handbooks and manuals have been developed to guide faculty interested in designing, implementing, and facilitating a distance learning course. In addition to the normal tasks that have to be accomplished in creating any new course, distance education imposes some additional challenges. For example, a decision must be made as to the type and brand of technology to be used for the course. In addition, the instructor must discover how to maximize communication and interaction between him or herself and the students, and among the students themselves. Finally, appropriate methods of testing and assessment must be determined.
Colleges looking for existing programs to emulate have a multitude of models from which to choose.
California Community Colleges, Office of the Chancellor. This document identifies some of the policy issues facing higher education in the age of distance learning, and frames the discussion for the implications of these issues for the community colleges. Some of the issues that need to be considered are the level of cooperation or competition among the colleges, the need to protect copyright and intellectual property, and the guidelines to be followed for accrediting distance education. This introductory essay to a special theme issue addressing technology use by the tribal colleges emphasizes the importance of having pedagogy drive technology use and not the other way around. The incorporation of technology, which has been sanctioned by tribal elders in various states, should be approached with caution to assure that it does not undermine the mission of tribal colleges to serve the needs of Native Americans.