LEADERSHIP FOR OUR CENTURY - Leadership for the 21st Century Learning:
Global Perspectives from Educational Innovators, Colin Latchem and Donald E.
Hanna, eds. London: Kogan Page, 2001 was highly recommended in the latest issue of
The American Journal of Distance Education, Vol. 15, No 3, pp.79-81. In the
publication's Book Review section, the reviewer, Don Olcott Jr., stated that this book on
distance learning "...transcends the obvious, embraces the difficult and provides a
synthesis of theory, practice and innovation that brings all of the pieces of the puzzle
into focus." (p. 79) According to Olcott, the book focuses on ways in which visionary
and entrepreneurial leadership can help an institution position itself to be responsive to
market demands and changing priorities. Chapters 1-5 are written by the editors and
include an overview of various approaches to open and flexible learning; the challenges
and choices of responding to an increasing demand market; the challenges of developing
an entrepreneurial culture in a traditional environment and an examination of various
processes of organizational change and criteria for leadership in open flexible learning.
Chapters 6-23 include a series of significant interviews with successful international
leaders who have guided their organizations in open and flexible learning. The final
chapter is a synthesis and summary of both leadership concepts and key strategies.
Olcott summarizes, "Latchem and Hanna have written and edited a "leadership
handbook" for open and flexible learning professionals at all levels. On a rating scale of
1-10, Latchem and Hanna deserve a 12." (p. 81)

KEEPING e-LEARNERS FROM escaping - Authors of "How to Keep e-Learners
from escaping," Journal of Interactive Instruction Development, vol. 14, no. 1, Summer
2001, pp. 8-11), Jim Moshinskie and the eLITE Think Tank, present techniques for
getting, motivating and keeping online students. Although the paper focuses primarily on
online corporate trainers, the ideas are transferable to any online learning environment.
The article features techniques for: before, during and after the online course. For more
information see: http://www.lti.org/ The article is not available on the Web. (CIT
INFOBITS, 21 Dec 01)