Social exploration is the key to spreading ideas through networks (Pentland, 2014). When people talk with others outside their immediate group, they can bring fresh ideas into the group--leading to improved outcomes. So, to improve educational practice, we should increase communication in our professional communities and encourage communication…

This research, begun in Fall 1991, explored the learning-to-learn strategies of adult students taking computer conferencing courses for college credit. It investigated how these students define effective learning and how they direct their own learning and lifestyles to meet the unique demands of this medium. This research gathered data through…

The success or failure of an asynchronous computer conference as part of a distance education course is largely dependent upon the abilities of the moderator of the conference. This paper discusses various skills and responsibilities of a moderator. It includes a discussion of ineffective moderation and how to avoid making common mistakes by…

Describes the application of activity theory to considerations of enhancing learning through the use of technology in higher education. Includes two case studies that explore the use of ICT (information and communication technology), one using computer-mediated conferencing and one using a Web site. (Author/LRW)

Despite improvements in educational indicators, such as enrolment, significant challenges remain with regard to the delivery of quality education in developing countries, particularly in rural and remote regions. In the attempt to find viable solutions to these challenges, much hope has been placed in new information and communication technologies…

This bibliography for trainers and teachers interested in open or distance learning lists 68 books and articles devoted to particular aspects of the "learning revolution," i.e., arrangements to enable people to learn at the time, place, and pace that satisfy their circumstances and requirements. Materials are listed under 12 headings:…

This manual, based on work completed for Francophone distance educators in Ontario, explores the factors and dynamics needed for learning and teaching in new classrooms that are created by the conferencing technologies of audio, audiographic, computer, and compressed video. These classrooms are new in that learners are not gathered physically in…

This document contains 35 papers: "Distance Education with a Human Face" (Holmberg); "Time Is Money and Vice Versa: Reflections on Using Satellite Delivery to Improve Cycle Time and Quality" (Robinson); "Distance Education: Consolidating the Gains" (Grossman); "The Human Resource Imperative" (Atkinson); "Developing Short Courses for Business and…