It has been said that assumptions regarding learning are implicit in designs of instruction and education. The purpose of this article is to explore the assumptions of the teaching‐learning process in distance education. Cognitive constructivist learning theory is used to clarify current and emerging assumptions regarding teaching and learning at a distance. It is suggested that perhaps a cognitive constructivist view of learning may provide a perspective for distance educators to clarify their assumptions and design instruction that is more than efficient assimilation of prescribed content.

This chapter presents a theoretical model of online learning, the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework, which is grounded in John Dewey’s progressive understanding of education. The CoI framework is a process model of online learning which views the online educational experience as arising from the interaction of three presences – social presence, cognitive presence, and teaching presence. Each of these three elements in the CoI framework are described and related to Dewey’s work, and research findings and issues concerning them reviewed. The development of a common CoI survey measure that promises to address some of these issues is described and discussed. The chapter concludes with emerging findings from new studies which use the CoI survey, directions for future research, and practical uses of the CoI framework.