This paper describes the current status of computer assisted instruction at the Katholieke Universiteit, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, as well as several ongoing projects. Attention is directed to the problems that computer assisted instruction can resolve as well as to the problems inherent in the system itself. (Author/STS)

Online learning technologies now pervade higher education institutions, and the convergence of teaching and learning onto technological systems has created new work practices and a demand for staff development. Educational developers are located at a nexus between the institutional and pragmatic imperatives, from which tensions and incongruencies…

TICCIT has been a prominent feature of the instructional environment of the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College since 1974, and its presence has pervaded all the operations of the campus, both instructional and administrative. Positive and negative impacts have been recorded by two evaluations. (Author)

In 2 years, RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia) set up an online learning system for 50,000 students. The development of the RMIT Distributed Learning System has taken the University from a cottage industry model to a fully fledged enterprise system for flexible online learning, integrated with the University's student administration system and…

Texas' new higher education plan sets goals of enrolling 500,000 more students in higher education and increasing the number of certificates and degrees awarded by 50%, by 2015. Distance learning technology, which is already opening doorways to higher education, is poised to play an even larger role in helping Texas reach these goals. The Texas…

Guidelines represent an important instrument in the development of Web-based Training (WBT). They help to create reliable, portable, and interoperable standardized WBTs of high-quality. The development of guidelines can be considered as a key success factor regarding the effectiveness of WBTs. The effects of guidelines can be both favorable and…

Reports on projects in British Universities which have focused on open learning. Establishes the main features of the learning environments created; results of the case study innovations; and management of change issues and how these may be addressed. A table presents details of the studies. (AEF)

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…

Describes programs at the University of Phoenix to develop and enhance faculty effectiveness. Discusses training for first-time online courses; continuous online training (including: the Faculty Writing Workshop; Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum; Grading, Evaluation, and Feedback; Learning Teams; and other courses); faculty peer reviews;…

Discusses the use of the Interactive Computer-based Testing (ICBT) in university-level science courses as an effective and economical educational tool. The authors discuss: (1) major objectives to ICBT; (2) advantages and pitfalls of the student use of ICBT; and (3) future prospects of ICBT. (HM)

Mobile computing and assured access are becoming popular terms to describe a growing number of university programs which take advantage of ubiquitous network access points and the portability of notebook computers to ensure all students have access to digital tools and resources. However, the implementation of such programs varies widely from…

Reports results of a survey conducted to determine perceptions of the barriers to distance education. Sixty-four barriers were determined from a review of the literature and clustered into the following 10 factors, based on survey responses: administrative structure; organizational change; technical expertise; social interaction and quality;…

Begun on an experimental basis in March 1975, the ongoing PLATO project at the University of Delaware has become an established part of the University's academic program. This descriptive report is divided into three sections: (1) project history and development, including organization, utilization, instructor and author training, and projections…

Many early adopters of educational technology report increased costs-both in technology and in faculty time. This research shows how early followers can decrease costs by using existing online supplementary materials and a redesigned course structure that increases face-to-face contact and provides multiple means for students to learn course…

This paper presents the results of a research study conducted in fall 1999 to examine the challenges facing higher educational institutions in migrating to distance learning. The study consisted of five case studies conducted at higher educational institutions in Pennsylvania. At each institution the researchers interviewed the president and other…