This study explored the use of the Web-based virtual environment, Adobe Connect Pro, in a postgraduate online teacher education programme at the University of Waikato. It applied the tenets of Moore's Theory of Transactional Distance (Moore, 1997) in examining the efficacy of using the virtual classroom to promote quality dialogue and explored how…

The development of interactive television instruction for distant learners involves nine sequential steps such as gaining attention, eliciting performance, and enhancing retention and transfer. Visual materials should be used to maintain interest and illustrate key concepts and relationships, and appropriate interactive techniques should be used…

Describes an experience teaching curriculum design to students of educational administration, using synchronous video to teach students at both a distant location and in a university classroom. Topics discussed include the role of the teacher in interactive video conferencing, differing approaches to different kinds of course content, and…

This article provides an overview of a 6-university collaborative project, "Roadmap to Effective Distance Education Instructional Design." This project developed instructional materials and innovative approaches to better prepare instructional designers at land-grant universities and other universities with agricultural academic programs…

This paper reports on a study at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis that examined how two-way audio/visual interactive learning (2WAVIL) technology can be used to help prepare students prior to a museum visit, hoping that this preparation may help students interact with exhibits in a more constructivist manner. The study focused on children's…

The conversion of a course for delivery via video teleconferencing can easily become an insurmountable task for a faculty member working alone. The model used at Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Texas) for the conversion of courses for delivery via video teleconferencing entails collaboration between the faculty member and an instructional…

Discusses successes and failures in the field of instructional technology and suggests methods to design more appropriate systems that would present fewer barriers to adoption. Topics discussed include educational television; videotext; video technology; audiovisual aids; teleconferencing; computer assisted instruction; interactive video; CD-ROM;…

This paper investigates the correlation between the quality of instructional design and learning outcomes for early childhood students in the online synchronous cyber classroom. Today's generation of e-learners has access to highly engaging and well-designed multi-media synchronous classrooms. However little data exists on what constitutes…

Presentations at this conference focused on future developments in distance education and innovative uses of learning technologies. Ten papers from the general sessions, including keynote addresses and a panel, are presented in the first of two sections. Topics covered include planning for new priorities in distance education; trends for 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…

In fall 1997, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW) provided Science and Technology in Society, a university general studies science literacy course, to advanced placement high school students at three local high schools, using a combination of live video presentations and World Wide Web (WWW) courseware. A total of 26 high school students…

The following papers are included: "Assessment of Telecommunications Needs at the Texas Department of Health" (Adair, Griffin, Steinhausen); "Realizing the Democratic Ideal in Adult Distance Learning" (Boyd, Dirkx); "Classroom Social Interaction" (Burkhart-Kriesel); "Interaction Analysis of an Inter-University…