The rapid growth of technology has made online tools available for education. The ability to discern the characteristics of these tools and to use them appropriately for educational purposes has become increasingly critical. Weblogs and discussion forums are among those up-and-coming tools that have great potential in supporting learning. They…

Considers the role of the teacher in distance education. Topics discussed include professional knowledge; differences from conventional teaching, including increased interpersonal distance, reduced interaction, loss of feedback, and interference in message transfer; and reflecting on context, learners, and methods. (23 references) (LRW)