The Business, Education & Community On-line Network (BEACON) is designed to support development and implementation of demonstration applications operating in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) fiber optic network environment. Initial origination and destination sites include high schools and universities around Rock Hill (South Carolina). The…

This report begins with an introduction to the main features of computer-mediated communication, concentrating on the use of computer conferencing for collaborative and group work. Twelve case studies on the use of computer conferencing in the academic environment are then presented and analyzed, with attention being given to both positive and…

Describes an educational computer network, SuperInterface, that could be used for telestudy for university education. Topics discussed include computer-supported collaborative work; computer-based learning; multimedia databases, or electronic books; human-machine interfaces; hardware, software, and groupware; learners; teachers; organizations and…

This book describes in non-technical language how a small school can greatly expand its course offerings by forming a two-way interactive television (I-TV) network with surrounding school districts. I-TV is the linkage of 3 to 10 school districts over fiber optic, coaxial cable, or dedicated copper telephone lines which enables participating…

The purpose of this symposium on research in distance education was to continue the process of building the network of scholars and climate of cooperation and communication necessary for further development of distance education and to provide an opportunity for discussion. Four main areas of focus for the symposium were learning and…

This paper describes two pilot programs that are developing networks among rural New Zealand schools to address the educational isolation of students. A program located in the South Island consists of a consortium of six small rural high schools using distance education technology to offer an expanded curriculum to rural students. The goal of the…

This report of the Distance Education Secondary School Committee of Northern Ontario, which is composed of representatives of the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Independent Learning Centre, Native and French language components of the MOE, and Contact North, discusses the role that the Contact North distance education network can play in the…

This evaluation report is the second in a series addressing the development of the Ohio SchoolNet Telecommunity initiative. Overarching topics for evaluation inquiry include technology deployment, practices in professional development, and impacts of network use on students and teachers. The report is organized by 14 "most frequently asked…

The Kansas Library Network Board (KLNB) appointed a Distance Learning Committee to investigate the possibilities for more effective cooperative arrangements between institutions sponsoring distance learning classes and local libraries. This document contains two sets of recommendations to the KLNB. The first set describes how the KLNB might assist…

This document reports on a telephone survey of higher education planning activities in the western United States that sought information on the development of intrastate electronic consortia for higher education services. A taxonomy of "virtual universities" was developed to make it possible to compare differences and similarities…

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it provides the background to and describes the evolution of a major State University of New York (SUNY) research and development effort to create and demonstrate a unique model of learning which delivers interactive, multimedia mathematics curriculum to learners in their homes. This model was developed…

This proposal describes a project which is designed to demonstrate a model of learning that will deliver multimedia mathematics curriculum to learners in their homes. This model will shape and extend current integrated learning systems capacity and merge it with videoconferencing for delivery through the emerging telecommunications infrastructure.…

This report identifies potential issues that the Cornell University Library (CUL) might face in supporting distance learning, and recommends solutions. While the precise budgetary implications are uncertain, additional resources, services, and personnel will need to be accounted for in the cost of serving distance learners. The report addresses:…

The widespread use of Information Technology (IT) in a college or university setting represents a significant change from traditional ways in which higher education has been conducted. Technological change has repercussions throughout the many dimensions of institutional life. This paper explores the impact of information technology on the…

Presentations at this conference focused on how organizations and individuals are improving their efforts to serve learners at a distance through innovative approaches to competition and collaboration. Rapid developments in technology promise expanded access to education and training resources, but the developments challenge traditional policies…