1st Edition

Transactional Distance and Adaptive Learning Planning for the Future of Higher Education

By Farhad Saba, Rick L. Shearer Copyright 2018
    242 Pages 14 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    242 Pages 14 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Transactional Distance and Adaptive Learning takes a fresh look at one of the pioneering educational theories that accommodates the impact of information and communications technologies in learning. The theory of transactional distance (TTD) provides a distinct analytical and planning foundation for educators to conduct an overarching inquiry into transitioning from mass instructional and management systems in higher education to dynamic and transformational futures that focus on each individual learner.  

    Based on the TTD, this pragmatic approach offers instructors, administrators, students, and other stakeholders a comprehensive planning method to assess the current state of their instructional, learning, and management practices and to develop alternative models to prescribe future improvements in their institution. This complex, self-organized, and adaptive method includes current and emergent properties of:

    • hardware, software, and telecommunications systems that allow faculty, students, and administrators to communicate;
    • instructional and curriculum systems that provide teaching and learning environments for faculty and students; and
    • management, societal, and global systems that influence how institutions are supported, funded, and managed.

    List of Tables

    List of Figures

    Case Studies

    List of Abbreviations

    Foreword

    Preface

    Acknowledgments

    Chapter 1 - Conceptual Framework

    Chapter 2 - The Theory of Transactional Distance: The Broader Context

    Chapter 3 - Hardware Systems

    Chapter 4 - Software Systems

    Chapter 5 - Introduction to Adaptive Learning Systems

    Chapter 6 - Telecommunications Systems

    Chapter 7 - Instructional Systems

    Chapter 8 - Instructional Design Models: A Transactional Distance Perspectiver

    Chapter 9 - Curricular Systems

    Chapter 10 - Management Systems

    Chapter 11 - Societal Systems

    Chapter 12 - Global Systems

    Chapter 13 - From Theory to Practice

    Appendix - Review of Selected Literature About the Theory of Transactional Distance

    Index

    Biography

    Farhad Saba is Professor Emeritus of Educational Technology at San Diego State University, USA, and Founder and Editor of Distance-Educator.com.

    Rick L. Shearer is Director of Research, World Campus at The Pennsylvania State University, USA.