Constructionism places an emphasis on the process of constructing shareable artefacts. Many virtual worlds, such as "Second Life", provide learners with tools for the construction of objects and hence may facilitate in-world constructionist learning experiences. However, the construction tools available present learners with a significant barrier…

Role-plays in a virtual world hold tremendous potential for higher education because they allow synchronous, immersive participation by students located across the globe. They also have the added advantage of allowing students to adopt roles and carry out tasks that are not possible in the real world. In this article, a project that involved…

This article seeks to assess the impact of V-Pal (Virtual Partnerships for All Languages) on the student language learning experience within a conventional UK higher education (HE) curriculum. V-Pal is an innovative computer-mediated language scheme, based on a reciprocal, distance-learning language project, run by the University of Manchester in…

This paper reports the observations made and experience gained from developing and delivering an online quantitative methods course for Business undergraduates. Inspired by issues and challenges experienced in developing the online course, a model is advanced to address the question of how to guide the design, development, and delivery of…

The aim of this paper is to investigate the pedagogical suitability of using cell phones to enhance learning through social interaction in distance education. Social interaction was used as a conceptual framework to explore the potential for using "MXit"--a cell-phone instant messaging system--to support and enhance learning for distance…

This paper reviews the themes emerging from Bangladeshi teachers' experiences of taking part in the initial research and the development stage of a professional development programme they were involved with. The Secondary Teaching and Learning Programme is an information and communications technologies-enhanced supported open distance learning…

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 rarely include teaching and…

A pilot project involved off-campus (distance education) students creating their assignments on Macintosh computers and "mailing" them electronically to a campus mainframe computer. The goal of the project was to determine what is necessary to implement and to evaluate the potential of computer communications for university-level…

This paper reports on a computer conferencing pilot project initiated by the Consortium for the Development of Professional Materials for Vocational Education and developed at the Center on Education and Training for Employment at Ohio State University. The report provides an introduction to computer conferencing and describes the stages of the…

Describes a pilot study at the Open University of the United Kingdom that used a computer mediated communication (CMC) tutor group for a distance learning course. Highlights include the role of the tutor; benefits perceived by students; comparisons with face-to-face tutorials; and tuition issues. (LRW)

The University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Economics was selected as a pilot institution for implementing distance education in Slovenia. This article illustrates how the synergy of combining existing domestic resources and the local social/educational environment with outside expertise could bring about a self-sustainable distance education program…

Distributed collaboration supported by different forms of information and communication technologies (ICT) is becoming increasingly widespread. Effective realization of technology supported, distributed collaboration requires learning and careful attention to both technological and organizational aspects of the collaboration. Despite increasing…

Describes a joint project in which California State University, Los Angeles delivered an advanced course to students at Tomsk Polytechnic University in Tomsk, Russia using Telnet communications. Discusses the technology, course alterations, the role of local coordinators, delivery, and future opportunities. (AEF)

An audioteleconferencing system enhanced with a microcomputer-based telewriting system was used for the delivery of an introductory statistics course designed for home study which was offered by Athabasca University. From the instructor's point of view, the telewriter system made supporting the delivery of the statistics course much easier and…

Part of a pilot project in distance learning by satellite in North Carolina, this telecourse is designed to increase teachers' awareness and understanding of how to use computers and instructional software in their teaching. The six 1-hour teleconference sessions in this telecourse include "live," interactive one-way video/two-way audio…