INTRODUCTION
Background
Distance education is not a new phenomenon in higher education (National Education Association, 2002). Historically, distance education meant written correspondence using the U.S. Post Office as the carrier (Emmons, 1999). Correspondence courses have been offered by colleges since the late 1800's. Traditional distance learning has tended to be correspondence-based and individually oriented. Print-based and delivered through the mail, correspondence was the first medium through which colleges in the United States could provide distance education, or what is now usually called independent study. Correspondence or independent study in the United States dates back to 1892, when the University of Chicago was established. During the following three decades a number of post secondary institutions, mainly state universities, opened correspondence study offices. These offices used videotapes, slides, and other ancillary materials (Pittman, 1987; Moore, 1973).......
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