They are also encouraged to critically compare their ways of dealing with conflict situations with those presented in the training program. Thus, the program becomes elicitive as well as prescriptive. In addition to providing instructor feedback and interaction, we also encourage online dialogue between students in different parts of the world, thereby enhancing the cross-cultural value of the course. While many potential users do not yet have access to computers and the web, such access is expanding rapidly throughout the world. For example, conflict research, training, and education organizations can make the program available to their students, dispute resolution practitioners to their clients, and advocacy groups to their constituents.
Government agencies can use the program for employee training.
At this early stage of audience development, we really do not know how large our user group will be, but we expect it to grow quickly as more people become aware of the program's availability. Users need not hire trainers, buy new materials, or pay for travel expenses. Instructors can also be recruited from all over the world and the online character of the program allows them to fit the work into their normal schedule. Despite the advantages of this system, it has limitations. At this point, all interaction is by written word-through the essays users read, papers they write, and online dialogues between instructors and students, and among students.