Distance education: a case study with applications for DoD and the Marine Corps

Abstract

This thesis is a qualitative analysis in the field of distance education. The author's research first established what technology is required for an organization to engage in distance education. Next, an argument was made through interviews throughout DoD and the Marine Corps indicating that implementation of distance education required strategic thinking and vision. Standardizing, outsourcing, and prototyping contribute towards effective implementation. Finally, a case study was conducted using a grounded theory approach with primary users of videoteletraining (VTT) from the Defense Language Institute of Monterey, CA. The goal of this research was to find common themes created from three focus groups concerning user reactions towards VTT. Important concepts emerged corroborating positive implementation theories: VTT instructors adapt quickly to the medium, VTT bridges the distance gap between student and teacher, and VTT encourages instructors to grow as managers of the medium Overall, distance education is viewed as a viable option for DoD and the Marine Corps.