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. Often they had specific questions relating to class discussions and related the material to situations in their personal lives. Courses offered via cable television are a way of providing education on an informal basis to citizens of Indiana.