Foreword.

The Explosion of Distance Education.

Recent Growth of Distance Education.

The Digital Explosion.

Political Initiatives.

The Changing Marketplace.

Who Is Interested?

Impact on Discussions of Quality.

What Is Ahead.

The Significance of "No Significance".

State of the Art.

Recent Criticism of the Research.

The Critics Criticized.

What the Critics Reveal.

Summary.

Research Basics.

Source of Studies.

Absolutes.

Definitional Dragons.

Complexity of Research on Learning.

Theoretical Approaches.

Summary.

Research on Technology and Students.

The Role of Technology.

The Role of the Learner.

Summary.

Research on Faculty and Institutions.

The Role of Faculty.

The Role of Institutions.

Summary.

The Pursuit of Guidelines.

Using the Research You Have.

More Traditional Views.

The Latest Thinking in Accrediting Distance Education.

Comparing the Guidelines.

Faculty Tips and Guidelines.

Guidelines for Students.

Growing Acceptance and Criticism.

Summary.

Advice to the Confused.

New Quality Measures.

Other Models of Quality.

Attitudes About Quality.

Empowering the Consumer.

Using the Guidelines.

Responsibility for Quality.

Quality Education.

Conclusions.

References.

Index.