Online learning environments are more prevalent in teacher education than ever before. In 2009, many instructors are attempting to emulate traditional instructional methods in the online learning environment as much as possible. Online courses are separated into two categories, (1) asynchronous; and (2) synchronous, depending on the nature of the…

This paper presents a definition of distance education and a rationale for it both in pragmatic, problem-solving terms and in relation to a larger view of society. The geographic, political, educational, and technological context of distance education in Canada is then discussed. Traditional correspondence courses, satellite-delivered credit and…

Contrasts uses of electronic mail which are contrived by teachers versus uses that are based on real educational needs. Examples based on elementary school projects in Canada, the United States, and Australia are given; and uses in distance education, in school administration, with handicapped children, and to improve writing skills are described.…

Discussion of distance education, developments in communication technology, and communication theory focuses on the results of a study of university students that compared the dynamics of a traditional classroom with a virtual classroom facilitated by two-way audio-video technology. Considers email use, student interaction and collaborative…

Providing a variety of instructional methods and materials, developing unique and effective communication systems, and continually evaluating the process are the keys to the effective delivery of field-based programs in graduate education offered by Nova University (Florida). It has become a leader in distance-education programs by offering…

This report of a 3-year project discusses the results of the testing of computer conferencing and e-mail (electronic mail) at Montgomery College (Maryland) over a period of four semesters. The product was designed to answer the following questions: (1) Could computer conferencing or e-mail increase access? (2) Would the quality of the instruction…

Discusses the need for teachers' professional development in technology use and describes a study that examined use of the World Wide Web and email for professional development of K-12 educators. Discusses technology and society; compares the Web-based course with a traditional class; and concludes that distance learning is a viable option.…

Two programs for providing distance tutoring for at-risk elementary school children were implemented and evaluated in successive years. Each program employed 10 graduate education students as tutors for approximately 25 sixth-grade children, i.e., 2-3 tutees per student. Tutoring exercises were oriented around writing and language skills…

In a teaching experiment, 16 face-to-face and 11 e-mail Finnish university students engaged in an argumentation course. The 19 students of the control group did not study argumentation. The course involved two lectures, exercises with argumentative texts, and face-to-face or e-mail seminar discussions based on these texts. The topics of the texts…