In this article, a design-oriented, multimodal understanding of learning will be outlined. There seems to be a need for a new conceptualisation of learning in an era characterised by an increasing virtual space, blended media and new communicative patterns. This means a broader understanding of learning, and a theoretical understanding of…

Today's youth thrive in informal participatory communities where they not only consume but also act as contributors or producers. Through active participation they develop new media skills encompassing cultural competencies and social skills. In a participatory culture of learning, students' active contributions to their learning are stressed and…

Partly owing to the status of podcasting as a buzzword and subject of much recent media attention, educational technology researchers and practitioners have been using the term very loosely. Few studies have examined student perceptions and uptake of "podcasting" in the true sense of the word, whereby a syndication protocol such as Really Simple…

In order to develop potentially transformative Web 2.0 tools in higher education, the complexity of existing academic practices, including current patterns of technology use, must be recognised. This paper describes how a series of participatory design activities allowed postgraduate students in education, social sciences and computer sciences to…

Outlines the enhancement of a learning technique by the deployment of a novel multimedia learning system (MMLS). Presents a detailed overview of the MMLS starting from the content development flow to the implementation stage. This project is being launched at the Multimedia University Malaysia. Macromedia Dreamweaver and Macromedia Flash were used…

Recent developments in areas of online education and the modernization of the GI Bill of Rights in the form of the Montgomery GI Bill have served to enact an unparalleled era in the history of higher education. Now, more than ever, servicemen and servicewomen have both the financial resources and the technological resources to pursue higher…

This paper describes a quantitative cost effectiveness model for Web-supported academic instruction. The model was designed for Web-supported instruction (rather than distance learning only) characterizing most of the traditional higher education institutions. It is based on empirical data (Web logs) of students' and instructors' usage…

This article presents a synthesis of the theoretical and research literature on facilitating asynchronous online discussions effectively. Online courses need to be designed so that they provide motivation for students to engage in productive discussions and clearly describe what is expected, perhaps in the form of a discussion rubric.…

Describes the Online Academy that developed online instructional modules in reading, positive behavior support, and technology across the curriculum for preservice teacher education programs at the University of Kansas. Focuses on the formative evaluation processes that were employed in creating the instructional design, usability, and…

Summarizes some of the opportunities and difficulties in integrating Internet-based activities in the traditional marketing classroom, and offers ideas for future applications and research. Marketing specialists are encouraged to examine both how, and when, the Internet can be used productively in the classroom. (Author/MSE)

Virtual schooling, or the practice of offering K-12 courses via distance technologies, has rapidly increased in popularity since its beginning in 1994. Although effective interaction with and support for students in these environments requires a unique set of skills and experiences, teacher education programs currently place very little emphasis…

Proposes a computer-mediated education system, developed at Doshisha University (Japan), which uses discussion-embedded digital lectures. Explains how students can read related discussions while watching the lecture video, facilitating further discussion and thus achieving a more effective distance learning environment. Includes evaluation of a…

"Confronting Hypertext" is a collaborative project designed to investigate learning outcomes using hypertext-based instruction delivered via the Internet. This article describes the project and suggests ways to map student reactions (commitment to books, distrust of online information, confusion) in different professional programs,…

Students and faculty in distance education programs encounter barriers to success that do not exist in traditional classrooms. This article explores student and faculty barriers, compares the current literature on barriers to success with data gathered from an online master-of-science degree program offered by Walden University (Minneapolis, MN),…

Discusses the need for new learning materials and systems that will promote lifelong learning, based on fictional accounts of the future of learning. Considers tutorial learning, the use of computers, adaptive learning, mastery learning, distance learning, and hardware and software. (LRW)