This monograph in the Urban Diversity Series describes the The Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL)initiative, relates it to research dealing with instruction generally and computer-mediated instruction specifically, and discusses its implications for education. ADL was undertaken to make instructional material universally accessible primarily, but not solely, through delivery on the World Wide Web. The ADL initiative was begun by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in cooperation with the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP). It is intended to make education, training, and performance aiding available anytime, anywhere, and to anyone through the use of asynchronous, computer-mediated instruction. The purpose of this paper is to describe the ADL initiative to educators and educational researchers and to invite their participation in shaping and guiding its development and implementation to ensure its contribution to education practice and processes. ADL is of obvious importance to professionals concerned with training and education, but it has promise for other audiences as well. Included among these are individuals in schools serving rural areas remote from libraries and museums, minority students in urban areas attending schools with limited resources, and students seeking elective course offerings in specialized subject areas. Includes a glossary of information technology terms. (Contains 81 references.) (SM)