There are three alternative means for granting college credit for learning achieved outside the academy--credit for non-collegiate courses, credit by examination, and credit for experiential learning. Discusses how each works and how each challenges traditional patterns. (Editor/RK)

Compares student perceptions and learning outcomes of computer-assisted instruction with those of traditional didactic lectures. Class representatives indicated that students did not perceive computer instruction as being time effective. However, exam scores from computer laboratory questions were significantly higher than those from either…

Describes a study that used meta-analysis to compare the academic achievement during a 12-year period of secondary students who were instructed through traditional methods, traditional methods supplemented with computer-assisted instruction (CAI), or CAI alone. Results were compared with earlier research and indicate that the effect of CAI on…

Discusses learner-centered active assessment, or interactive assessment, and applies it to an instructional design course that used WebCT (a Web-based authoring/management tool) to support a face-to-face classroom setting. Highlights include a definition of classroom assessment; and results of pretests and posttests, class surveys, and course…

Reports on a pilot study conducted to determine whether the benefits of the case study method as a training framework for change initiatives in academic libraries could successfully transfer from traditional instruction to a virtual Web-based format. Presents results of a survey that evaluated the study and showed positive feedback. (Author/LRW)

Focuses on the use of multimedia delivery technologies and their effect on distance education at the Community College of Southern Nevada. Discusses the creation, delivery, and evaluation of an online version of an existing campus-based module; compares the two versions; and discusses results in terms of examination performance and student…

Describes a study that examined the intentions, social organization, and meaning of online interaction in a graduate distance education course in teacher education delivered by a combination of online and face-to-face instruction. Explains the theoretical framework which was based on symbolic interactionism and the methodological approach which…

Presents a model that can assess the relative quality of distance education courses by moving the emphasis from student-level data to course-based data. Reports data comparing online and traditional higher education courses covering nine disciplines and explores the usefulness of this framework for identifying discipline-related differences in…

Compares two introductory statistics courses at Bar-Ilan University (Israel), one offered as an Internet-based course and one as a traditional lecture-based course. Highlights include expectations of students; student satisfaction at the end of the course; students' self-confidence in the Internet course; and cost effectiveness. (Author/LRW)

Discusses basic characteristics of distance education and suggests areas for further development. Topics discussed include distance education as a substitute for conventional education versus a mode of education in its own right; non-contiguous communications; learning content; target groups; course development; and the need to support student…

Contrasts two fourth-grade teachers' treatment of a student's robin eggshell. One teacher continues with a conventional, text-based science lesson; the other asks what the eggshell means and helps students devise research questions to be pursued in the library and in art class. Also, seven provocative questions are posed for would-be education…

Discusses learner autonomy in traditional adult education and in adult distance education. Learning strategies are described, the teacher's role in each educational setting is examined, and examples of autonomy learning at a distance are given, one at the University of Surrey and one at the Open University in Great Britain. (32 references) (LRW)

This discussion of definitions of distance education responds to previous articles attempting to define the field. Topics discussed include distance education versus conventional education; group-based distance education; differences between open learning and distance education; and criteria to define distance education. (13 references) (LRW)

Examines results of a 1992 group learning study done by Queen's University of Belfast (Northern Ireland). Compares the quality of learning and depth of critical thinking in seminars conducted face-to-face and via a computer conferencing system. Findings indicate that computer conference discussions had significantly deeper critical thinking than…

Gives a general description of reformed calculus efforts and describes experiences with two reformed calculus programs together with traditional calculus. Also provides comparisons between these three programs using teaching evaluations and student journals. (Author/MKR)