Thanks to the Web and the Internet (yes, they are two different--but related--entities), instructors can reach out and touch more students than ever before. However, one question must still be answered: "Does it make a difference?"
According to Thomas L. Russell, Director Emeritus of the Office of Telecommunications at North Carolina State University, it doesn't. That is, the fact that we spend so much time and effort in delivering instruction at a distance is not having any real measurable difference on the quality of education compared to the traditional face-to-face instruction.
Russell has put together a web site that complements and adds to his book, The No Significant Difference Phenomenon.
Feel free to take a look around and see what Russell has to offer. You may agree or disagree with the studies he's compiled.
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