Factors Related to Instructors' Willingness to Participate in Distance Education

The Internet is the fastest and easiest way for one to collect and disseminate information to individuals regardless of their location. A number of educational institutions find that the Internet is an attractive method of delivering courses. This study was designed to identify elements of instruction formats that distinguish distance education (DE) methods from traditional face-to-face instruction with respect to instructors' experiences and opinions. The findings from this study should help explain instructors' willingness to participate in DE; and can be used to improve DE formats currently in use. Many students must juggle responsibilities other than academic ones (e.g., those of work and family), and instructional formats that facilitate their ability to do so will appeal to them. Content analysis indicated flexibility as one advantage of DE. Providing more resources for training and improving technology may encourage more instructors to become involved with DE. Instructors are an invaluable source of information with respect to the benefits and pitfalls of different delivery methods, and their feedback should be sought. (Contains 1 note.)