College campus "tours" offered online have evolved to include 360-degree views, live video, animation, talking tour guides, interactive maps with photographic links, and detailed information about buildings, departments, and programs. Proponents feel they should enhance, not replace, real tours. The synergy between the virtual tour and…

Describes three state-initiated programs that address the challenge of providing access to health care for Appalachia's rural residents: a traveling pediatric diabetes clinic serving eastern Kentucky; a telemedicine program operated out of Knoxville, Tennessee; and a new medical school in Kentucky dedicated to training doctors from Appalachia for…

Telematics in the form of text-based, computer-mediated communications can support teaching and learning and can help the formation and cohesion of communities of learners. This paper examines the development of a "critical community of learners" through this medium, based on experiences with students studying the Open University (OU)…

Provides contact information and brief descriptions of 13 high schools, colleges, community programs, and distance education schools receiving the Australian Rural Education Award in 2000. (SV)

Examines the use of information and communications technology (ICT) within higher education, using primarily the experience of Henley Management College (United Kingdom). Discusses the potential of ICT, the role of technology in education, reengineering management education, technology and management learning, and teaching using technology. (DB)

Because North Carolina's telecommunications services have been unable to provide cost-effective, statewide dial-access service to public libraries, the state library has had to identify a suitable alternative for public library network access. This article outlines the state library's efforts to provide access to the Internet and to electronic…

Discusses worldwide efforts to use technology as a distance learning tool, particularly in less-developed countries. Topics include telecommunications and transfer of knowledge, including subject matter, pedagogy employed, and use of appropriate technology; and examples of three projects currently underway in less-developed countries to help…

Provides examples of Internet lessons for elementary school students using electronic mail. Projects include sending messages to a listserv to ask schools to send temperature reports; seeking contacts at a school where a story took place; assembling a list of spring-related words and pictures; and soliciting greetings for a school's anniversary.…

Describes three typical scenarios in which distance education (DE) is used. Defines elements of DE and provides a rationale for its implementation. Discusses important trends in DE related to technology (i.e., advances in signal transporting and communication systems) and to pedagogy and andragogy (i.e., instructional design and planning for…

Presents a series of questions to help rural school administrators assess their readiness to include distance learning as part of the instructional program. The questions address program need or purpose, school resources (human, facilities, and equipment), and selection of distance learning technology system. Lists brief explanations of common…

Outlines Web-based training (WBT) options (page-, frame-, and screen-based), provides general guidelines for designing Web-delivered instruction. Discusses case studies of a teacher's guide to the Holocaust and sales training for a telecommunications company. Provides addresses of sample WBT sites. Includes reader reactions and author responses to…

Discusses the implications of delivering satellite courses to elementary grades based on results of the evaluation of two Star Schools projects. Focuses on: how the programs are used, importance of interaction, and role of the classroom teacher. Results suggest a new paradigm for using distance education technology for the elementary grades.…

Considers the impact of mobile wireless technologies on Web-based Instruction and Training (WBI/T). Discusses the relevant technological infrastructure issues, content design and development issues, and differing modes of communication as they pertain to mobile wireless WBI/T, followed by a scenario of one possible WBI/T application. (Contains 12…

Describes the United Kingdom Open University's FirstClass(TM) Computer conferencing system and its role in student support, taking as an example the way it is used for course choice. Suggests that while there are students who use it freely and apparently derive benefit from it, there are also substantial issues to be addressed about its relative…

Two case studies involving graduate education majors illustrate how multicultural/antiracist education and computer-mediated communication can interact successfully and further broaden cultural sensitivity in technology through diverse perceptions and contributions. Facilitating factors included theory-to-practice concepts, Internet dialogue, and…