In this issue: How Distance Education Has Changed Teaching and the Role of the Instructor

Abstract: Reading and ’riting and ’rithmetic have gone cyber. If only the schoolteachers of the 1800’s and early 1900’s could see the classroom of 2007, what would they say? The classroom has evolved from the one room schoolhouse to a virtual classroom. With this change come changes in the role of the educator. This paper delves into how the evolution of distance education has changed teaching and the role of the teacher from a disseminator of information to a facilitator of learning. It will discuss the professional development needed to prepare the teacher for teaching in the online learning environment. It also explores the use of social software (Blogs, Wikis RSS feeds and Podcasts) in the distance education environment. Finally, the paper will discuss curren