A case study of distance education and its application to the Marine Corps Institute (MCI)

Abstract

The Marine Corps Institute (MCI) is the agency responsible for the administration of the Marine Corps Correspondence Course Program. This thesis examines and analyzes the operation of MCI's correspondence program, then identifies areas that threaten MCI's ability to accomplish its mission objectives. This thesis also investigates the feasibility of using Information Technology (IT) to enhance the performance of MCI's current operations. To resolve problems identified in administrative operations, this thesis recommends the development of a relational database. Computer-based instruction and hypermedia courses were identified as appropriate technologies for use by MCI's distance education program. An implementation strategy that incorporates these technologies, utilizing existing telecommunications infrastructure, was developed.