Research Report - Long Distance Learning

The topic I would like to address is distance education. There are several ideas which I hope to discuss:

1. Benefits versus detriments: While distance education is undoubtedly presenting new educational opportunities for students in remote locations, is an important social aspect of education missing when students learn away from their peers?
2. Do students in distance ed. programs gain enough practical, hands-on experience from their courses? Are the skills they have gained enough preparation for career preparation?
3. How can distance ed. programs be made more two-dimensional and transactional, rather than one-dimensional and transmissive?

These are questions I will address to begin my search; undoubtedly, other questions will arise as the search progresses.