Technology and Distance Education: Challenges Facing the American West

Abstract

The western states have unique geographical challenges compared to the rest of the United States. Vast spaces and very small communities of people contributed to making colleges and universities in the West among the first to adopt technological solutions for reaching people. Since the mid-1980s, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Utah have played a leading role in developing technological and/or administrative systems to serve students who were not able to come to a campus.

Sally Johnstone wishes to thank the early WCET staff members who facilitated the progression of quality distance learning practices and policies, Mollie McGill and Russ Poulin. More thanks go to Paul Albright for documenting western higher education progress.

Ritchie Boyd would like to thank Bob Gillespie, Dan Jordt, and Marty Ringle for their lively discussions of the history of NorthWestNet and the future of academic computing. In addition, thanks go to Russ Poulin and Mike Offerman for their reflections on emerging educational consortia and companies in the West.