Provides an overview of the information technologies that best facilitate and support educational activities, emphasizing areas relevant to distance education. Technologies in the areas of video communications, audiographics, telephone systems, and computer communications are classified and described. (CLB)

This paper surveys the various teleconferencing trials in the Open University, and attempts to analyze why they have been relatively unsuccessful compared to other new media initiatives such as audio cassettes and computer assisted learning. The situation is placed in the context of British and European educational use of telecommunications in…

Describes efforts of Eastern Montana College to provide inservice education to teachers in rural areas using interactive teleconferencing. Suggests lack of this method's interactive visual component be overcome with the use of microcomputer networks. Stresses that these two technologies are readily available and reasonably cost effective. (NEC)

Describes an experiment at the Open University in Great Britain that expanded the use of home-based microcomputers for distance education students enrolled in higher education courses. Results of an evaluation of the program are discussed, computer conferencing is described, student drop-outs are examined, and future possibilities are considered.…

This paper describes two distance education courses on educational technology offered to the University of Wyoming by the University of Toledo (Ohio) and Florida State University. The first course, "Teaching Computer Courseware Design Using Audio Teleconferencing and Electronic Mail," is described by its professor, Dennis C. Myers of Toledo. This…

A project undertaken at the University of Minnesota evaluated two microcomputer teletraining systems (audiographic conferencing) to determine the effectiveness of this technology for point-to-point and multipoint distance education. System design requirements included broadcast keystrokes, error checking, master-slave linkages, simultaneous voice…

A study of teachers in the United Kingdom's Open University who used a computer mediated communications system called Cosy in 1988 was conducted to document their experiences with and attitudes toward the system. The results of interviews and analysis of log sheets revealed that: (1) the sample of teachers (n=10) showed a range in usage of the…

By combining the use of an existing teleconferencing network with new computer-based video technologies, the University of Wyoming has enhanced its ability to provide distance educational opportunities for students at remote sites across the state. The new computer-based audiographic system was tested during the fall semester of 1988 during the…

Reviews a computerized monitoring system for distance education students at Athabasca University designed to solve the problems of tracking student performance. A pilot project for tutors is described which includes an electronic conferencing system and electronic mail, and an evaluation currently in progress is briefly discussed. (LRW)

The Networked Classroom was implemented by the Southern Interior Telecommunications Project (SITP) to provide computer mediated communication (CMC) to teachers and students in the southern region of British Columbia. The Networked Classroom uses telecommunication networks to link teachers and students from different locations, to support their…

Proposes and discusses the implications for the learner-instruction relationship of "future" seminars combining the use of interactive television, teleconferencing, and personal computers, and contrasts each of the new training methods with one of today's traditional formats: classroom lecture, group discussion, and independent study or homework.…

Describes recent innovations in distance learning technology, including the use of video technology; personal computers, including computer conferencing, computer-mediated communication, and workstations; multimedia, including hypermedia; Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN); and fiber optics. Research implications for multimedia and…

One of the most recent technological systems to be adopted for use in distance education is computer-mediated communication (CMC), which typically includes computer conferencing, electronic mail, and electronic bulletin boards. The purpose of this review is to provide teachers, researchers and administrators with a practical summary of current…

Audiographics is the merging of microcomputer graphics, telephone communications systems, and teaching strategies into a cost effective method of delivering distance education classes. The teacher creates visual images that are sent to and stored on computers at the remote sites. At the appropriate time the teacher and the remote site assistants…

In order to determine what constraints lead students to enroll in television-based courses, personal interviews were conducted in the fall of 1989 with students enrolled in at least one telecourse at four institutions, i.e., Governors State University in Illinois, Northern Virginia Community College, Memphis State University in Tennessee, and the…