Education Professor Publishing New Edition of Textbook

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice Professor Michael Simonson, Ph.D., is publishing a new edition of the textbook “Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education.

This will be the eighth edition of the book. Simonson published the first version of the textbook after recognizing there was a future for distance learning back in 1999. When he tried searching for a textbook that could be used at the university level, he came up empty-handed, so he decided to write one himself.

“I put together a team of three in addition to myself and we collaboratively wrote the first edition of Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education,” Simonson said.

Simonson said the book is a best seller in the field.

“It has been in existence in one edition or another for [over 20] years … It’s a book that will give people the background they need, an understanding of what distance education is, what the research and theories are, and then practical information so they can be effective educators at a distance.”

This latest edition of the book focuses on applied research while balancing the theories of teaching and learning that relate to using technology to reach students at a distance.

Simonson said he worked with the Alvin Sherman Library here at NSU to get the edition ready for publishing.

“I had a reference librarian who helped with the references, helped me make sure my citations were done correctly, and she was right there virtually by my side,” he said. “Her name is Melissa Johnson and she was excellent in helping me.”

The book is set to be released next year.

Congratulations on all your heard work Professor Simonson!

Posted 11/26/23