This document describes the accomplishments of the Iowa Distance Education Alliance (IDEA). The Iowa Distance Education Alliance (IDEA) is a partnership involving educational institutions across Iowa that received funding from the federal Star Schools Program to demonstrate the use of the Iowa Communication Network's (ICN) fiber optic technology…

To make effective use of a two-way interactive distance education system, classroom design should be a primary consideration. A properly designed classroom will enhance content objectives and increase acceptance of this type of instructional delivery. This paper describes key considerations for optimal design. Construction considerations include…

The Communication Tech and Policy section of the Proceedings contains the following 14 papers: "Interactivity Reexamined: An Analysis of Business Web Sites" (Louisa Ha and E. Lincoln James); "Newspaper Size as a Factor in Use of Computer-Assisted Reporting" (Bruce Garrison); "The Rural-Urban Gap in Community Newspaper…

This paper critically analyzes problems and issues related to learning with open, technology-based environments. Theoretical assumptions that underlie learning in this type of environment are clarified in the first section. The second section addresses imitations in adaptive capabilities of technology, including: the learner relies upon feedback…

This essay describes the struggle to maintain access to significant research and scholarship at a time when both the volume and price of information have increased nearly three-fold in the last decade. The discussion, which is derived from a roundtable of presidents, chief academic officers, university librarians, and policy and legal experts,…

Over the past seven years, Northern Arizona University (NAU) has implemented NAUnet, a professional-broadcast-quality, two-way audio, two-way video instructional television (IITV) system. The IITV system provides a face-to-face environment where students and faculty can see and hear each other and engage in discussion. Recently, several courses…

The benefits of Internet activities for teaching of foreign languages, for example the use of e-mail as a non-threatening environment for language output, and using the Web to integrate language and culture, have become apparent in the last few years. This paper describes WebCT as a user-friendly integrated Internet environment for the teaching of…

A survey was conducted of 205 information systems departments to determine information about existing distance education programs, plans for future distance education programs, faculty selection and training, and advantages and disadvantages of distance education. Of the questionnaires returned by 46 information systems departments, only 12 were…

This publication describes some of the key technologies of distance education in the context of teacher education at Armstrong Atlantic State University, Georgia. The technologies permit college-to-school and school-to-school links, cross-cultural communication, and other expanded forms of communication. Section 1 examines distance education…

This research-based professional development course is designed by the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory to offer participants ways to connect technology with teaching and learning, and to examine ways to apply technology innovations to instruction and to improving teaching and learning. In the six, 2-hour sessions, participants (who…

The aims of this research were to: investigate teachers' needs for knowledge and skills in relation to the effective use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and suggest ways of enhancing future design and delivery of self- and staff-development in order to increase and improve the level of ICT use in Scottish schools. First, a…

Believing in the importance of learning from field experience and valuing the development of reflective practitioners has led the College of Education, University of Missouri-Columbia to reform its undergraduate teacher education program. Concurrent with the curriculum redesign was an effort to use technology in the service of the new program…

Issues related to changing modes of business communication, particularly those that are computer-mediated, are discussed as they relate to the teaching of business English. Information about current practices in computer-mediated communication (CMC) drawn from the business press and research journals is summarized, focusing on that which can help…

Distance education occurs when distance and/or time prevents the learner and instructor from meeting face to face. Ways of providing distance learning opportunities include traditional materials by mail (print materials, audio and video support materials, audio and video lectures) and electronic materials (faxed information, telephone, electronic…

This paper proposes a framework for supporting the authoring process of distance learning courses. An overview of distance learning courses and the World Wide Web is presented. The proposed framework is then described, including: (1) components of the framework--a hypermedia design methodology for authoring the course, links to related Web sites,…