According to a January 2007 survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 55 percent of teens (ages 12 to 17) report having created a personal profile online, and an equal number regularly use social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook. Of those, 91 percent use the sites to stay in touch with friends they see frequently. With all…

Discusses benefits of online distance learning and considers some of the barriers that need to be addressed for successful implementation. Topics include quality compared to traditional face-to-face methods; academic workloads; self-pacing issues; the lecturer's role; lack of standards; security concerns; and the need for strategic planning. (LRW)