Distance Learning:Integrated Technology Applications

摘要

Distance learning technologies have proven over the past several years to provide solutions to many of the increasingly complex educational/training needs of elementary,primary, and secondary schools, universities, and businesses/corporations. The emerging distance learning industry represents a leading-edge integration of proven technologies that remove geographic, social, and economic barriers to quality educational and training resources.The most successful applications of technology in distance learning systems have consistently involved interaction between the master teacher and students located at remote receive sites. When satellite broadcast technologies were first used for distance learning applications, "talkback" via-telephone was sufficient to provide an acceptable level of interaction.Today, however, the management of instruction via distance learning systems is becoming increasingly difficult due to large enrollments and the associated issues of how to assess, evaluate,monitor, and report student and class performance efficiently and effectively. It has proven inadequate to provide student interactivity via talkback alone. To meet the demands created by the growing distance learning industry for ways to measure student performance and to manage network administrative functions, program providers are turning to technology for answers. The most successful have combined talkback and "databack" - audio and data responses sharing transmission lines, typically telephone, from participating network subscribers to the program origination site. This paper describes various talkback and "databack"options for distance learning networks, as well as other interactive features which are already in use in some networks or under contemplation for use in others.