Learning Anytime, Anywhere: Advanced Distributed Learning and the Changing Face of Education

• Published in: Educational researcher Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 96 - 102
• Main Authors: Fletcher, J. D., Tobias, Sigmund, Robert A. Wisher
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA American Educational Research Association 01.03.2007; Sage Publications; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Academic degrees; Beginning Teachers; Case Studies; Collaborative learning; Community centers; Computer Assisted Instruction; Computer Uses in Education; Courseware; Distance Education; Education; Educational environment; Educational Practices; Educational research; Educational Technology; Electronic learning; Individualized Instruction; Instructional design; Learning; Learning Processes; Lifelong Learning; Online learning; Program Descriptions; R&D; Research & development; Research News and Comment; Schools; Special Needs Students; Specifications; Students; Studies; Teachers; Technological change; Technology Integration; Tutoring; Virtual Classrooms; Web Based Instruction; New York; United States > US; distributed learning; educational technology; Web-based learning; learning objects; accessible learning; individualized instruction
• ISSN: 0013-189X; 1935-102X
• DOI: 10.3102/0013189X07300034

The Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) initiative was undertaken to make education, training, and lifelong learning accessible at any time, anywhere. It has developed specifications and techniques that are being adopted globally by governments, businesses, and schools. Although ADL currently focuses on government and business applications, it has significant implications for the classroom structures, processes, and activities of K-16 education. The authors describe the ADL initiative and its implications for K-16 education and call for increased attention from educators and education researchers to the opportunities and challenges represented by anytime, anywhere, distributed learning.