This article investigates the relationships between social presence, cognitive absorption, interest, and student satisfaction in online learning. A hypothesized structural equation model was developed to study these critical variables that may influence interaction in online learning environments. Contrary to expectations, the study determined…

Access to higher education in the U.S-affiliated Pacific Islands is limited. The island nations and territories in this Pacific region are geographically dispersed and separated by thousands of miles of ocean. Although local and regional colleges offer undergraduate degrees (associate's and bachelor's levels), islanders who seek graduate-level…

The College of Education (COE) at the University of Hawai'i--Manoa provides a teacher preparation to the vast majority of teachers in Hawai'i. The COE has offered teacher preparation to Hawai'i's neighboring islands in the past, however, the frequency of offerings was severely constrained by geographical distance and traditional delivery methods.…

From its beginnings 25 years ago, the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu (UH-West O'ahu) has strived to provide its students, mostly working adults with an average age of 32 years, with easy access to classes and advising by maintaining flexible class schedules and office hours. When UH-West O'ahu initiated a distance education program in 1981, the…

This article was composed collaboratively using Nicenet, a computer electronic bulletin board. The three co-authors collaboratively edited the file and exchanged drafts via e-mail while simultaneously gathering reflections from colleagues online. Their collaboration on authoring this article in some sense closes the circle of similar activities…