As the use of distance education grows, the question arises as to whether there are inherent limitations to the use of such an approach, due to the fact that learning is culturally and experientially mediated. The effective implementation of digital learning environments involves recognizing that successful teaching and learning involves students engaged in a social process of meaning appropriation. This in turn requires that the whole learning environment, not just the technological infrastructure, is designed as a well orchestrated whole. A brief review is presented in this paper of some of the approaches towards distance learning adopted by higher education institutions in both the West and the East (the Open University, United Kingdom, the Virtual College, part of Singapore Polytechnic, the National University of Singapore). Strengths and limitations of online courses are also highlighted. A list of exemplar sources and URL references are appended. (Author/AEF)