Training faculty to add technology to courses should begin with a needs assessment. Design considerations should be incorporated into training to avoid student confusion in using web pages and completing on-line quizzes. Generally, web-enhanced courses can follow a constructivist approach if instructors have the prerequisite skills in place to use…

Virtual schools are a result of widespread changes in knowledge about learning, in available technology and in society. Virtual schooling is growing in popularity and will continue to attract students because of the benefits it offers over traditional schooling. Stakeholders in virtual schools need information to guide their decisions. For the…

Lehigh University's Clipper Project collected data on the short- and long-term effects of offering five Web-based, college-level introductory courses to early-decision, non-matriculated high school seniors for 1) the students who participated; 2) the faculty who developed the courses and taught them online; and 3) the institution that offered…

This study was designed to determine how students' engagement in a learning and debate activity on a current scientific controversy influences their understanding of the nature of science and, in turn, informs their decision-making on the issue. Two high school science classrooms, totaling 38 students from 9th through 12th grade, participated in…

This report provides a snapshot of Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states' electronic initiatives and demonstrates states' commitment to expanding learning opportunities for their residents. The following five common objectives emerging from a review of state activities are listed: (1) to develop the economy and train the work force; (2)…

The community of K-12 education has seen explosive growth over the last decade in distance learning programs, defined as learning experiences in which students and instructors are separated by space and/or time. While elementary and secondary students have learned through the use of electronic distance learning systems since the 1930s, the…

This paper discusses the impediments to distance education (DE) programs and the critical value of interaction and dialog in DE learning environments. The types of interaction to be considered when designing a DE program are listed, including interaction to increase learning, to increase participation, to develop communication, to receive…

This document contains the following papers on graduate and inservice telecommunications from the SITE (Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education) 2001 Conference: (1) "Teaching Technology with Technology" (Michelle Adelman and Susan Luftschein); (2) "Standards of Practice: Online Educator Inservice Workshop" (Cathy and Terry…

St. Petersburg Junior College (SPJC), Florida, identified critical issues in e-learning practices and posed six questions in order to formulate an evaluation process. SPJC considered one question per quarter for 18 months. The questions were reviewed using the following steps: (1) examine best e-learning practices related to that question, using…

This paper argues that one of the keys to an effective distance learning system is an effective monitoring and evaluation system. The evaluative process enables college faculty and administration to identify and address problems distance learners are experiencing. Distance learning instructors at Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute (New…

This paper examines the challenge of teaching online classes to students who have difficulty with organization and time management. Online learning is far removed from the traditional classroom learning rubric. Online education requires students to navigate a multi-layered information path. The first step toward student preparation is to assess…

This document provides a checklist for the development of effective instructional Web sites that promote student learning and enable instructors to enact the principles of good teaching. The information presented is valuable for instructors of online courses and faculty members who utilize instructional sites to supplement face-to-face classroom…

As the World Wide Web becomes part of mainstream learning and teaching at Australian universities, changes to online learning include a proliferation in the use of commercial learning environments and in the movement of institutional processes online. These changes indicate that now is an appropriate time to plan for the future. The University of…

This paper examines the perceptions of the learning technology mentors (LTMs) involved in the development and implementation of the RMIT University (Australia) Online Bachelor of Nursing program. This program was identified as a strategic program within RMIT Life Sciences for renewal as there were major changes occurring in the disciplinary…

The communication revolution has stimulated teacher education institutions in many countries in the world to integrate modern technology such as the Internet into their programs. However, just transferring traditional text-based materials to the World Wide Web is often counterproductive. This paper focuses on the experiences of 12 Sri Lankan…