Learning by television is not a new phenomenon and, as an educational medium, it has gone through some severe growing pains. Unfortunately, while advances in technologies (cable, home recorders, satellites, teleconferencing) have contributed to an increase in the number of telecourses since the mid-1970s, faculty are often unprepared to teach…

Since 1978, the University of Victoria has offered courses to students in British Columbia, using an interactive satellite delivery system. During that time both the system and the course design have become more sophisticated. Principles underlying program design include focusing on the learner and communication with learners, and basing televised…