CMC resources Abstract Research on distance education is plentiful on the Web, thus it provides an excellent tool for developers and teachers of on- line courses. With advancement in technology and the spread of the Internet in our schools, educators have been pressured to keep up with the swift changes occurring in educational practice. Courses are often designed with only minor regard for research in the area. At issue is the qualifications of those designing on-line courses. The purpose of this paper is to offer a step for those developing their skill.
Distance education is discussed here in a constructivist framework.
The Internet offers an ideal venue for practicing constructivist principles. There is also the potential for realtime evaluation and assessment which makes research through this mode of delivery quite feasible. What follows is a discussion of the issues that should be addressed when designing and implementing on-line instruction. Included is a collection of resources gathered while researching for this paper. Some of the most popular media for delivering distance education include computer based communication such as e-mail, bulletin board systems, and the Internet.