Reading Notes on Moore: Theory of Transactional Distance

This is a brief note concerning Moore's Theory of Transactional Distance.
Learning across distance--the transaction involves actors (learners/teachers), environments, behavioral patterns and communication techniques. Structure and dialogue determine transactional distance, i.e., low transactional distance occurs under conditions of more dialogue and less rigid structure (flexibility in responsiveness to needs), whereas high transactional distance occurs when teacher-learner dialogue is minimal or nonexistant, within a highly structured format. Learner autonomy represents another aspect of transactional distance, whereby the learner benefits from appropriate levels of ongoing dialogue and structure to facilitate a greater comfort level in various high-transactional distance situations, where autonomous inquiry decisions and modifications occur frequently.