Write a 14 page essay on Online/distance learning programs.Paradoxically, however, even as more and more people are expressing interest in enrollment in online programs, online learners are experienci

Write a 14 page essay on Online/distance learning programs.

Paradoxically, however, even as more and more people are expressing interest in enrollment in online programs, online learners are experiencing dissatisfaction and disappointment. There are several reasons for the stated, not least of which are the lack on interpersonal interaction and the novelty of the experience. It is precisely because of this that it is imperative that universities which deliver online courses and educational programs design and implement a best-practices framework. Doing so requires that university administrators and faculty review and evaluate their online courses for the purposes of determining extent of adherence to best practices, following from which, if needed, they should redesign the courses in question with the said best practices framework in mind. This report, focusing on MDDE 604: Instructional Design and Program Evaluation in Distance Education, will review perspectives on online learning for the purpose of forwarding suggested revisions to the course in question. MDDE 604 is an online master’s course offered by Athabasca University. Students come from diverse educational, national, and linguistic backgrounds. Therefore, while the course serves Canadian students, it cannot be directed exclusively towards them since a significant percentage of students are international. The course textbooks and reading are current and relevant and the course website is easy to navigate. The course textbooks and reading are current and relevant and the course website is easy to navigate.