Discusses virtual universities and the design of Web courses. Topics include current traditional college courses; computer assisted instruction; reconsidering education; why professors teach; what they teach; what students expect; how employers view graduates; certification; why knowledge is overrated; goal-based course design; and conceptual…

Describes a new model of advisement services for online learners that was developed at Capella University, a totally virtual campus. Discusses advisors' training, that included learning about the characteristics of adult learners and differences between online learning and traditional settings; and a course that teaches online learning strategies.…

The popularity of the master's of business administration (MBA) degree has resulted in booming enrollments in the United States and around the world. In the late 1990s, the MBA degree seemed to be in danger of being taken over by trends in high technology. First, for-profit providers gained students and credibility to such an extent that respected…

This article describes the adaptation and validation of the Constructivist OnLine Learning Environment Survey (COLLES) for use in the transnational higher education context. As higher education becomes a more global phenomenon, "borderless" education, either online or by distance education, is becoming a reality and there is a need for…

This paper describes the Introductory Physics I and II courses taught by the author via the Kentucky Community and Technical College System's Kentucky Virtual University (KYVU). Students can register for a KYVU course either online or at their local college. Because many of the students are not highly computer literate, and they may be working on…

The fiscal year 2000 Alumni Survey at a large, substantially online university was used to assess undergraduate students' satisfaction with both online and face-to-face academic quality and student services. Students who had taken online classes evaluated both their online and face-to-face classes. In addition, students who took only face-to-face…

The role of libraries within the virtual university is unclear, and the danger exists that students will be expected to rely solely on the Internet. This article argues that librarians must reinvent the library and their role as information providers. Examines virtual universities in Australia and North America and the roles of librarians and…

Describes the development of online courses at Penn State's World Campus, a virtual university that employs information technology to deliver academic programs to adult learners worldwide. Discusses the team development process, including instructional designers and faculty; communication; evaluation; and faculty opinions. (LRW)

Reviews trends in the use of ICT (information and communication technology) in Japanese higher education institutions. Highlights include recent trends in national policy; educational policy; use of communications satellites; broadcasting; Internet use; videoconferencing; issues concerning virtual universities; and use of multimedia. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of the development of distance education in Switzerland focuses on a history of the Swiss Virtual Campus and an explanation of the role of the Educational Technologies Unit of the University of Geneva (TECFA). Topics include the integration of information technologies, teacher training, and the management of metadata. Contains 35…

Describes how institutions in Britain are working together to create a national e-University, a government-sponsored effort to bring together an assortment of distance-learning programs and courses to be sold to students all over the world. However, some officials are skeptical of its need or its prospects for success. (EV)

Discussion of the use of information and communications technologies in education focuses on networked learning. Highlights include virtual universities; lifelong learning; learning models; learning styles; motivation for learning; research in information behavior; information skills; and the developing role of networked learner support. (Contains…

This study focuses on the prerequisites for successful communication and collaborative learning in a large multinational company as perceived by human resource development (HRD) practitioners who took part in a cross-cultural e-learning course. The participants were Finnish and Chinese employees (n=17) who used an asynchronous web-based tool to…

The academic culture of higher educational institutions is characterized by specific pedagogical philosophies, assumptions about rewards and incentives, and values about how teaching is delivered. In many academic settings, however, the field of distance education has been viewed as holding marginal status. Consequently, the goal of this…

Recently, many national and international initiatives show an increasing interest in promoting distance education interventions by Universities. These directives aim at supporting students during their studies providing them with personalized solutions to their problems related not only to the fruition of on-line courses but also to orientation…