Discussion of distance education in colleges and universities focuses on a case study that compared completion rate and exam performance of a Web-based section of an international relations course with a traditional section of the course. Also examined gender differences in the Web-based course and found that female students performed better than…

Explains haptic computer interfaces for Web sites that relay touch-sensory feedback to the user. Discusses the importance of touch to cognition and learning; whether haptics can improve performance and learning; haptic interfaces for accessibility for blind and physically impaired users; comparisons of haptic devices; barriers to implementation;…

Discusses the importance of technology-enriched curriculum for preservice teacher education and describes a study that evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively the effectiveness of a redesigned introduction to technology course for preservice teachers. Results showed more positive student attitudes toward computers and less anxiety after…

Discussion of use of the World Wide Web for literary studies focuses on a course on contemporary Canadian literature offered at the University of Northern British Columbia. Highlights include weekly lectures, discussion forum, assignments, evaluations, Web courses versus other distributed learning media such as videoconferencing, and future…

Discusses problems in research investigating Web-based instruction (WBI) and describes a study of university freshmen that used a single-source method to test the impact of WBI on learning. Examines computer software log files and discusses results of multiple regression analyses that show use of relevant Web content does improve learning.…

Describes a study that developed a predictive model of adult learners' satisfaction in a Web-based distance education course and their intent to participate in future courses. Examined computer self-efficacy, academic self-concept, age, gender, academic status, years of computer use, computer training, and participation in a workshop for a…

Describes how a course, "Information Power," at Marylhurst University (Oregon) was developed into an online version. Presents an overview of Web access in distance learning. Discusses instructional delivery through the WebCT software program; specific components of the online Information Power class; measuring learning outcomes; and pros and cons…

This study was designed to identify the factors that influence students to print online course information, to ascertain whether these printing activities are related to a reduction in various barriers, and to determine if these activities influence students' satisfaction with learning. Implications for the design and development of Web-based…

Web-based technology has a dramatic impact on learning and teaching. A framework that delineates the relationships between learner control and learning effectiveness is absent. This study aims to fill this void. Our work focuses on the effectiveness of a technology-mediated virtual learning environment (TVLE) in the context of basic information…

Introduction: The objective was to review key articles and research studies on practices, preferences, and evaluation of on-line continuing education used by health care professionals. Methods: Data sources included searches of the "MEDLINE," "CINAHL," and "ERIC" databases (January 1990 to June 2004) and manual searches of the "Journal of…

This article describes practical issues related to the design and the development of a Web-Based Learning Environment (Web-LE) for high school students. The purpose of the Fossilization Web-LE was to help students understand the process of fossilization, which is a complex phenomenon and is affected by many factors. The instructional design team…

The proliferation of online courses has become a major concern for some educators when it comes to whether they apply valid and reliable instruments to asses learning outcomes. In addition, few publications seem to have dealt with the faculty realm that addresses the front-end fundamental learning principles of instruction that underlie quality…

In the past, the quantitative evidences of portfolio assessment have been explored under online instruction. Liu, Lin, and Yuan provide a long-term measure of peer-self, peer-instructor and self-instructor correlation coefficients under networked innovative assessment procedures. Analytical results indicated that undergraduate students could…

Today there are important types of analytical thinking, communication, quantitative reasoning, and information skills that cannot be used, or learned, without technology. Let?s look at just two:(1) information literacy; and (2) the ability to create Web sites as a medium of academic expression. Information literacy is the set of skills needed to…

The growth of international online access has given rise to a new production method--international outsourcing--that has important implications for technical communication practices. Successful interactions within international outsourcing require individuals to understand how cultural factors could affect online interactions. Today's technical…