Prolegomena to a discourse

Purpose The aim of this paper is to provide discursive background to a consideration of higher education's approach to online learning and set out the terms of engagement represented by the articles in this issue. Design/methodology/approach The paper is in the form of a narrative surveying the state of the discourse on online learning and providing a brief introduction to each of the articles. Findings The paper finds that history of online education has been compressed into a brief period, but it has already undergone several phases: from initial euphoria over the possibilities for expanded enrollments to a realization that online learning posed a new set of knotty pedagogical and institutional issues, to a current maturing phase. In this latter phase there is a pressing need for a public dialog that addresses the institutional challenges inherent in online education, and that provides examples of successful experiences and even specific guidelines for any institution or program involved with – or considering initiation of – an online program. This special issue of On the Horizon is intended as a contribution to this dialog. Originality/value The paper establishes a framework for in‐depth consideration of the issues addressed in this issue of On the Horizon

Dialog box · Epistemology · Higher education · Institution · Linguistics · Narrative · Originality · Political science · Public relations · Qualitative research · Set (abstract data type · Social science · Sociology · Value (mathematics · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Law · Online and Blended Learning