Online Postgraduate Education: Re-imagining Openness, Distance and Interaction

This book explores the nature of online higher education, arguing that it can be more accessible and authentic for adult learners. It presents an empirical research study that examines the lived experiences of online postgraduate students and presents three essential pillars of online postgraduate education: openness, distance, and interaction.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 126 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the nature of online higher education, aiming to enhance accessibility and authenticity for adult learners. In the face of diverse historical origins, which have led to various interpretations, applications, and understandings of online and distance education, this book presents an empirical research study that employs a narrative approach to delve into the lived experiences of online postgraduate students. It juxtaposes two arguments regarding the accessibility and authenticity of online education, effectively illustrating how they can be conflicting and contradictory. Through the analysis of narrative data, the authors reexamine the concepts of distance and interaction to present a novel understanding of openness that is relevant to the for-profit postgraduate distance learning sector. This book sheds light on the postgraduate distance education experience and presents a set of alternative theoretically informed conceptions, which the authors categorize as three fundamental pillars of online postgraduate education: openness, distance, and interaction.

The book is meticulously presented and backed by real-world examples of online higher education, empowering higher educators to reimagine their practices and create more accessible and authentic learning opportunities for their learners. By delving into the experiences of online postgraduate students, this book provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with online education, offering valuable guidance for educators and practitioners in this field.

Weight: 226g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367490256