Includes bibliographical references and index.

Organizational and cost structures for distance and online learning / William J. Bramble and Santosh Panda -- Changing distance education and changing organizational issues / D. Randy Garrison and Heather Kanuka -- Online learning and the university / Chris Curran -- Virtual schooling and basic education / Thomas Clark -- Historical perspectives on distance education in the United States / Paul J. Edelson and Von Pittman -- Funding of distance and online learning in the United States / Mark J. Smith and William J. Bramble -- Funding distance education : a regional perspective / Santosh Panda and Ashok Gaba -- Costs and quality of online learning / Alistair Inglis -- Costing virtual university education / Insung Jung -- Cost-benefit of student retention policies and practice / Ormond Simpson -- Cost-benefit of online learning / Zane Berge and Charlotte Donaldson -- Transforming workplace learning : the role of embedded learning in creating a competitive workforce / Jade Nguyen Strattner and Diana Oblinger -- Open basic education : organizational structures, costs, and benefits / Palitha Edirisingha -- From baobab to bonsai : revisiting methodological issues in the costs and economics of distance education and distributed e-learning / Thomas H'lsmann -- Implications for planning and management of distance and on-line learning / William Bramble and Santosh Panda.

This text provides an overview of the organisational models of distance and online learning from an international perspective and from the point of view of economic planning, costing and management decision-making. The book also points to directions for future research and developments.