New Delivery Systems for the 21st Century

This paper presents an historical perspective on the development of educational delivery systems, and then turns to the challenges of the information age and the issues of developing new delivery systems in this challenging environment. The paper discusses the fragility of power sources and of the networked world; technological weaknesses; freedom and control of information; a culture of changing values; increased incivility and hostility; and the Internet and the elements of divisiveness that will affect new educational delivery systems. Discussion then moves to issues related to educational technology and distance learning, including cost, control and ownership of course content; resistance to change; populations reached; student stress; the virtual university; problems and challenges; accreditation; the future of information networking; continuing threats to social stability; quality of distance education programs; and computer reliability and ease of accessing online information. Contains 35 references. (AEF)