Review by: Zellweger, Franziska (2004-08-09)

Diana Oblinger has enriched for many years the discourse on distance education and the future of traditional education with her profound expertise gained in administrative positions at several university campuses and business appointments with IBM or Microsoft. The purpose of her article is to lay the foundation that will allow institutions and individuals to discuss the broader scope of distance learning.

The author starts with a reflection on how networked technology and increasing corporate participation in the education market changed the environment for traditional higher education institutions. A steady growth in post-secondary education is predicted and higher education is perceived as a profitable market for investors.

At this point Oblinger asks “Is distance education the answer?” and provides rationales for universities planning to become engaged with distance learning. Each rationale (e. g. expand access, alleviate capacity constraints, serve as a catalyst for institutional transformation) requires a different business model. Elements of a business model are the selection of learner groups, the design of a sound value chain, and partnerships. For each of these elements Oblinger presents a variety of opportunities.

The author also calls upon the reader to reflect critically the common assumptions on higher education and how distance learning might affect those. Similarly, it is important to check the readiness of an institution before embarking on a distance learning venture.

This concise and pragmatic but well founded article is a great introductory reading for everybody interested in or affected by how technology might transform traditional higher education. Although it concentrates on distance education there is much value also for rethinking the role and the scope of technology in on campus teaching. However, considering the magnitude of the shift in values and assumptions on what higher education ought to be, not much space is devoted to this fundamental discussion required between the constituencies of an institution becoming engaged with distance education.