The following presentation presents my approaches to using the Internet for teaching in epidemiology. It outlines my observations regarding teaching in this format and identifies strengths and possible needs for offering instruction to students on the Internet. Internet-based teaching is one of several formats in which distance education can take place. Distance education, as an application has existed for a number of years.
Correspondence courses represent it's earliest form.
As communication technology has improved, the means for providing distance education has changed. Many current forms are now based on satellite uplinks or video conferencing. Distance education, though, has not gained widespread use because of it's costs. Many technologies are expensive to utilize. The Internet has renewed previous interest in distance education because it is relatively inexpensive to implement, allows for 2 way communication, has standard means of communication across the world and can be available to many students.