Modern Trends In Distance Education Design And Technology: A Look At Zimbabwe and Canada.

Abstract

It has long been established that the advantages of distance education include its cost-saving potential and flexibility. “Once the initial capital outlay is made and materials produced, unit costs decrease with expansion” (Fay Chung, 1992). One of the most serious obstacles to distance education for many years has been the perception on the part of traditional educators and the general public who view distance education as second rate. However, given the modern trends in distance education design and technology which now address internal efficiency and the intrinsic quality of studying at a distance, one begins to question whether there is now a shift in perception between distance systems of education and traditional ones. This paper looks at such development in Zimbabwe and Canada, two countries known for unique and successful approaches to distance education.