E-texts have become a main venue but research has not provided much guidance for practical adaptation, yet. This research query started in the spring of 2014 when an e-text was adopted for an undergraduate distance learning class. The change created some unexpected influence in the students' experiences. It was necessary to assess their…

Describes the potential of a FirstClass server in audioconferencing courses at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks using telecommunications, e-mail, student-to-student interaction, submission of assignments, e-mail, timely instructor feedback, and the transfer of files and multimedia documents. Student surveys indicated some positive aspects of…

Presents the results of two surveys conducted to evaluate distance education courses offered at a community college: one of students who enrolled in, but did not complete, a distance education course; and one of the faculty and administrators involved in telecourse planning and delivery. Describes how the results were used to improve the programs.…

The University of Central Florida (UCF) has formally recognized distributed learning as a strategic direction to increase access to educational opportunities for students within its service area and beyond. The University has chosen to employ asynchronous learning networks (ALN) as a primary approach to address the challenges of a rapidly-growing…

This paper explores cases of three classes that implemented online teaching and learning technologies as part of a university- wide faculty development grant program. Students' satisfaction with key components of the learning experiences was examined. Instruments included students' pre-assessments and post assessments; an instructors' post survey;…

Contends that distance-education technology can strengthen traditional courses in various ways. Focuses on the unintended benefits of distance-education technology: (1) transferable components from distance education; (2) strengthening the organization of traditional courses; (3) extended student interactions and teacher control; (4) student…

The University of the Balearic Islands (Spain) has continued in recent years to extend and broaden its efforts in the revitalization of its undergraduate education program. The University's location (it covers three different islands) makes it a particularly appropriate testbed for examining the application of information technologies to…

This study identified direct and indirect effects of Web users' age, gender, technical training, computer and Web competencies, perceived usefulness of the Web, and perceived needs of the Web on their Web use. A theoretical model for the variables that affect individual differences in Web use was conceptualized through related literature and…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether asynchrony between audio and visual presentation in distance education classes had an impact on student perceptions of distance learning and student achievement. Six distance education courses, all in different disciplines, were taught from six different locations to a minimum of one satellite…

Reports a study of Masters students in records management distance learning course. The 28 students shared a common experience of being a distance learner, though not a common experience of use of information technology (IT). Students benefited from the opportunity to combine employment with study. Drawbacks centered on distance from university…

Through the Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) project, online distance courses in College of Education at New Mexico State University (NMSU) have become an essential component of the Teacher Education Program. Pre-service teachers have been engaged in the process of learning with and about technology. The main purpose of this…

Examines preferences for instructional delivery methods held by students in a distance-delivered nurse practitioner program. From possible instructional technologies, students selected print-based materials significantly more often than any other, followed by CD-ROM and videoconferencing. Technological breakdown, poor technical quality of…

Distance education is moving toward more interactive environments. Studies of student satisfaction with distance education suggest that the level of interaction in the class is related to perceptions of satisfaction regardless of the instructional medium. This paper reports findings from a study of four graduate research and evaluation courses at…

This collaborative paper, created online by Ph.D students in a three-year cohort learning program at the California Institute of Integral Studies, explores the development and felt experience of distance learning. The purpose is to give a sense of how it feels to learn online and to describe the essence of learning. Results of this collaborative…

This study explored the perceptions of distance-education students in two-year institutions toward advising, counseling, and library/media services. The objectives were to provide information to assist community college personnel in the development of relevant student support services for distance-education students. Two questionnaires were…