The Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) is an innovative, accredited, internationally recognized program that is based at the School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria, in British Columbia, Canada. While the operation's core base is small, the virtual university's network and its impact are global. It works to…

There are hundreds of studies that address "no significant difference" in the quality of online versus on-ground instruction, yet it is clearly the instructor who makes the difference. While there is considerable research on student retention practices for university recruitment and enrollment departments, there seems to be little written on…

As the demand for online education continues to increase, institutions are faced with developing process models for efficient, high-quality online course development. This paper describes a systems, team-based, approach that centers on an online instructional design theory ("Active Mastery Learning") implemented at Colorado State…

Describes Concord University School of Law, the first fully online law school in the United States. Compares programs, students, teachers, and cost to those of traditional schools. (JOW)

Describes trends in technologies for electronic learning: developments in wireless that enable mobile learning, virtual universities, and simulations that involve emotionally charged situations. (SK)

Although university-level distance education often sets itself up in contradistinction to conventional educational provision, the thinking most distance educators is framed by a set of un-stated axioms that derive from the conventional system. This axiomatically framed approach to university education at a distance may well blunt the potential for…

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from February 2 to 6, 2009. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) HB 1447, a bill giving the Legislature authority to set tuition and fee rates, was heard in the House Education Committee Wednesday, February 4; (2) the Senate Finance and Taxation…

Modern school administrators are finding flexible opportunities to pursue doctoral degrees online. Cyber institutions such as Walden University, University of Phoenix and Argosy University--as well as a few traditional universities that have forged into the electronic arena--can accommodate time-strapped educators no matter where they live, as…

This booklet describes the African Virtual University (AVU), an interactive instructional telecommunications network established to provide distance education to the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The AVU was piloted in 1997-1998, and in the 1998-1999 academic year, 27 institutions were slated to offer AVU courses. Supported by the World Bank,…

As governors and states seek to improve the responsiveness of postsecondary education, Kentucky's experience provides a powerful example of a systemic reform strategy. In 1997, Kentucky's governor proposed, and the General Assembly approved, the Postsecondary Education Improvement Act (House Bill 1), which reshaped the state system of public…

Describes Western Governors University, a virtual university (http://www.westgov.org) organized by 15 western states and Guam to offer competency-based degrees via the Internet, electronic mail, computer software, video, or satellite. (Author)

This analysis extends the traditional marketing tradeoffs between richness (depth of knowledge) and reach (geographic area coverage) to the emerging technology-mediated education industry, and then specifically evaluates their effect on the teaching of international business. It asserts that interactive learning, particularly as it applies to team…

Examines trends concerning new providers within higher education, such as entrepreneurial higher education, corporate universities, the provision of virtual higher education, and the system of competence certification in computer technology. Concludes with a brief discussion of how these new providers challenge the principle of academic freedom.…

Describes three graduate distance education programs: the virtual campus of Walden University, the University of Phoenix Online Campus in San Francisco, and the television-based National Technological University. The programs demonstrate how a wide range of delivery methods satisfy the need for rigor, collaboration, and assisted autodidaxy in…

The interaction in successful online learning depends on three elements: (1) learners must understand the importance of interaction in achieving learning outcomes; (2) moderators must take responsibility for supporting interaction; and (3) learners must bring willingness and resources to the process. (SK)