Toward a Taxonomy of Distributed Learning Delivery Modes
Abstract: Massive integration of technology-mediated delivery modes in higher education is reconfiguring the traditional face-to-face delivery paradigm. In order to fully exploit the transformative power of these distributed learning delivery modes, it is imperative for policy-makers, administrators, practitioners, and faculty to understand the delivery modes’ characteristics, requirements, benefits, and drawbacks. To contribute to this understanding, this paper proposes a taxonomy which classifies various delivery methods based on four dimensions -- location, time, pedagogy, and technology. The author hopes that this contribution will allow institutions of higher education to better understand the technical, pedagogical, and logistical characteristics of each delivery mode, and that this understanding will enable educators to consider blending several delivery modes in order to offer more effective learning experiences to their students.