Frontiers of distance learning in business education

Distance education and online learning are interchangeable terms used to describe the delivery of educational content, whereby the student and the instructor are separated by geography, time, or both. Within the domain of business education, approximately one-third of all business schools offer online business programs, and many more are expected to follow in this direction. Considerable attention is therefore being given by business educators to the refinement of pedagogical approaches in their distance learning offerings. The growth in attention is reflected in the rising number of academic papers related to distance learning methods which appear in leading business journals, as well as the growing number of workshops, research seminars and online forums on the topic. The objective of this book is to consolidate state-of-the-art knowledge on distance learning methods, best practices, and research findings as they relate to online business education. This exposure would help inform business faculty, administrators and course designers on how to optimize distance courses in the various sub-disciplines of business to achieve the most beneficial results for business students.