I. Introduction

The Distance Education in the State of Alaska and

Northern and Siberian Regions of Russia

Abstract

The distance education in Alaska and the Northern and Siberian regions of the Russian Federation contributes to the solution of the Circumpolar North sustainable development and educational problems by delivering best educator courses to remote areas, simplifying the organization of joint US-Russian educational and scientific projects and creating interest educational groups and an epistemic community in both countries. In North American universities, Blackboard is the leading commercial LMS software packages, many Russian institutions are developing their own LMS. The University of the Arctic and the Northern Research Forum are increasing the interest in the use of information and communication technology and open learning resources and networks. In 2008 the UArctic Thematic Network on Distance Education and E-learning began to function. Internet and distance education create new opportunity for indigenous peoples to study native language and knowledge. Distance education can also add to broader questions of Arctic politics and governance.

I. Introduction

The research question of the article: Does the distance education in Alaska and the Northern and Siberian regions of the Russian Federation contributes to solving the Circumpolar North educational problems first of all by delivering best educator courses to remote areas, simplifying the organization of joint US-Russian educational and scientific projects and creating interest educational groups and the epistemic community in both countries. The main goals of research are to understand the Arctic contemporary educational problems (a lot of remote regions, lack of qualified personnel, no commons efforts in the Arctic); to analyze distance education spesifics; to analyze the Circumpolar North distance education issue; to carry out the comparative analysis of the distance education in Alaska and the Russian Northern and Siberian regions; to analyze current and potential US-Russian joint educational and academic projects in the Circumpolar North; and to analyze the contribution of distance learning field of study to broader questions of Arctic politics and governance.

The Arctic Human Development Report (2004, 169) indicatesthat there is very little circumpolar research in the field of education and now it is almost impossible to make a circumpolar assessment of education. This article can start an initial discussion of the theme that might be further explored in future work.

The base of research was chosen to solve a complicated task. It consists of research papers and conferences on the distance education in the Arctic; government documents created by international organizations, the US and Russian government agencies; website information of American and Russian universities and educational interest groups; International, Russian, and American legislations regarding educational policy; statistical sources; and mass media including online sources.

To analyze the base of research with focus on the research question and the main goals of research, the following research methods were used: the comparative analysis of the American and Russian distance education; the distance education report and material contextual analysis; the legalistic method of the federal and regional law and regulation analysis; the comparative quantitative analysis of social and educational indicators.

The paper plan consists of:

1. Introduction. P. 1-2.
2. Background

A) Education in the Circumpolar North. P.

B) Distance Education Overview.

C) Distance Higher Education in the Circumpolar North.

1. Distance Education in the USA and Russia

A) The Russian Federation

B) The United States of America

C) US-Russian cooperation in distance education

1. Arctic governance theories and distance education analysis

A) Interest group politics

B) International relations theories

C) Sustainable development and changing adaptive capacity

1. Conclusion
2. References

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14