I'm not a distance ed person, but I found this Xplana article kind of interesting. It's a review of existing studies on such factors in distance edu as isolation, motivation, and attrition. The author, Elaine Bontempi, recommends that

distance programs should be presented in a non threatening way, and should be designed so that they build up learners’ self confidence. This can be accomplished by providing many opportunities for small accomplishments, which should increase the learners’ expectations of success. Material should be presented in a highly organized, logical and comprehensive way and allow self determination. In addition, students should have access to technical support, libraries, tutors, academic advisors and financial aid, just as traditional learners do.

She also mentions the role of color, that color can be a powerful motivator. I wonder which colors are the most motivating? Perhaps my desktop wallpaper is in need of a redesign. :)

I saw another passage that I found, well, regrettable:

Perhaps those employed in a manual trade do not see the long term benefits of furthering their education. In general, manual trades fail to benefit from advances in education, whereas those employed in white collar jobs may have opportunities for career advancements as their education increases. Peer influences may explain these differences. It is possible that those employed in manual trades have friends who are also involved in the same fields, and their friends do not place value on furthering education (this is similar to what happens among “at-risk” teens).

I think it's somewhat classist to assume that "those employed in manual trades" do not see (understand) the value of learning. It reminds me of Mona Charen's glib statement that "If preferences were eliminated from higher education, black students at every level of education from primary through middle and high school would have to take academic performance more seriously." I know it isn't said with the same intent, exactly, but the same privileged blinders are up.