Dr. Hezel has long recognized the needs of educational organizations to harness the promise of telecommunications and technology. For two decades, Hezel Associates has evolved dynamically in its focus from media to telecommunications to distance learning and technology more broadly.

Beginning in 1987, Hezel Associates systematically documented the technology activities, policies, and developments in K-12 and higher education on a state-by-state basis. The first report, Coordination of Statewide Educational Telecommunications, evolved over the course of seven editions to Distance Education and Educational Telecommunications: A State-by-State Analysis. These reports explored the impact of technology development and policies, assessed new directions, and discovered the common concerns emerging with the growth of technology. This groundbreaking work continues to contribute to the market analysis of state e-learning.

Today, Hezel Associates work informs the entire distance education community. The National University Telecommunications Network-Hezel Benchmarking Study explores the issues related to distance learning benchmarking. The study will result in the development of a tool to assist college and university distance learning organizations in building their own benchmark capacity. Our 2005 report, Global E-learning Opportunity for U.S. Higher Education, is informing the market decisions of organizations on five continents. The results of our evaluation team’s experimental research of the effectiveness of online teacher professional development will inform policy development and program at the U.S. Department of Education.