Review

The Underlying Issues Responsible for Success and Failures in the use of Distance Educational Technology

Dr. Gabriel Kofi Boahen Nsiah

Senior Lecturer, Valley View University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Education, Accra—Ghana

E-mail: gabrielnsiah@gmail.com

Accepted December 22, 2014

Abstract

This article is an excerpt from a previous research. The study was a qualitative case study and the purpose was to explore the need for program development in a distance learning environment in the United States as a whole and to identify strategies for using best practices established in U.S.-based distance education programs as a basis for developing a model for other systems. To preserve anonymity of the cases and participants involved in the study, all names were changed to pseudonyms. The schools are identified as follows: Private School A (PSA), Private School B (PSB) and Online Public School (OPS). Private School A participants are designated with the names John, Janet, Teresa, Jerry, Elizabeth, Mathew, Cynthia, Ben and Stacy. Private School B participants are designated as Boris and Jonathan, and the OPS participants are named Andrew and Samantha. The study findings can inform institutions where quality education is needed to better prepare under-served school populations for higher education and for further contribution to the development and prosperity of that nation.

Keywords: Distance Education, Facilitator, Failure, Staff, Success, Sustainability, Technology