Dr. Michael G. Moore

Dr. Michael Grahame Moore is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Education at the Pennsylvania State University. He is known for his major contributions to the field of distance education. In 1972, he published his first statement of distance learning theory, which asserted that "distance education is not simply a geographical separation of learners and teachers, but, more importantly, is a pedagogical concept" [1]. Half a century of study, teaching, experimentation and advocacy of distance education justifies a claim that he is the founder of contemporary online education, a claim supported by his inclusion as among the 128 “most important, innovative, influential, innovative and interesting thinkers on education of all time” by Routledge’s Encyclopedia of Educational Thinkers [2]. He was inducted into the Adult Education Hall of Fame in 2013 and, into the United States Distance Learning Association Hall of Fame in 2002. Honorary appointments include Cambridge University, U.K., Shanghai Open University, China, University del Salvador, Argentina, and Honorary

Doctorates at University of Guadalajara Mexico and Athabasca University, Canada.

Among M. G. Moore’s many contributions, arguably the most significant is his seminal Theory of Transactional Distance [2, 3]. The theory describes the relationship between course design (structure), interaction (dialogue), and respect/awareness of individual learner’s tolerance for autonomy (self-direction). Essentially, the theory suggests that physical and temporal distance between the learner and the teacher gives rise to pedagogical issues that must be mediated by structure of a course and by the interaction between the learner and the teacher to minimize miscommunication and misunderstanding. The theory contributed significantly to the legitimization and growth of distance learning and teaching online. According to the most recent count [4], 5.8 million students, or 28.4% of all students enrolled in higher education in the United States are taking at least one online course.

A native of England, Michael G. Moore spent years of his early career in East Africa where he developed a belief in the potential of using technology (at that time, especially, in the form of radio broadcasting) to extend university resources to adult learners beyond the university campus. This interest brought Moore to the attention of Charles A. Wedemeyer at the University of Wisconsin, who invited Moore to join him in 1970 as a research assistant. On completing a doctoral degree in 1973, he joined the faculty of St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Canada.

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