JET_V2_N3_RP1 James V. Koch Journal of Educational Technology 2230 - 7125 2 3 38 49 Distance Learning, Education Journals, Empirical Analysis The role of distance learning in higher education has exploded in recent years. The Sloan Center for OnLine Education reports that the number of students taking online courses has been growing at approximately 20 percent per year and that more than 1.9 million students were taking an online course in the United States in Fall 2003 (Carlson, 2004). However, this does not reflect the full impact of distance education, for still other students engage in distance learning via television, PCs, compact disks, DVDs, and the like. October - December 2005 Copyright & copy; 2005 i-manager publications. All rights reserved. i-manager Publications http://www.imanagerpublications.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=884