Once these students feel comfortable with the system, most will actively participate in class discussions. Some televised courses can be taken in a non-interactive mode, meaning the course may be available on a delayed broadcast. If this is an option, time must be made available to answer these students questions and to discuss material. I set aside specific office hours just for the distance education students. Any calls from a distance education student take immediate priority during these hours, the students receive immediate attention, and they have commented that they appreciated not having to be called back or leave messages.
Electronic mail is another useful tool for communicating with students.
Students have commented that asking questions over the television system can be intimidating. Email provides a certain level of anonymity, which makes some students feel more comfortable. Cable television provides another mode of transmission of distance education courses. Biology 100 was first broadcast on Muncie s local cable television system in the fall of 1993, then again in 1994 and 1996. These people commented they did not want to enroll formally for college credit, but were interested in the material being discussed.