In one way applications, if the tools are put in the hands of subject experts to produce learning materials then they support the learner s conceptualisation. Two way technology applications in education and training Tables 2 and 3 summarises the nature of support for learning offered by different technologies. It illustrates that it is more difficult to support learners in two-way communications than it is in one way. However the difficulties and costs of production and delivery of information in the one-way settings is much higher than in the two way. This is particularly the case if the organisation is already set up to produce materials in this manner, with appropriate equipment and staff.
Production costs are high and support costs are low.
In traditional universities production costs are kept low and support costs are high. Distance Universities are set up to develop course material on a one-way basis. A luxury not afforded more traditional universities. It would be more difficult for traditional universities to convert to producing books, multimedia, video tapes than it would be to convert to computer conferencing, using the Internet or video conferencing. For a more detailed discussion of the relationship of technology to the learning model see Mayes et al 1994.