Echoes from the Future: Challenges for New Learning Systems. Proceedings of the Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning (6th, Madison, Wisconsin, August 8-10, 1990).

Overview & Synopsis

Presentations at this conference focused on future developments in distance education and innovative uses of learning technologies. Ten papers from the general sessions, including keynote addresses and a panel, are presented in the first of two sections. Topics covered include planning for new priorities in distance education; trends for the 1990s; strategic planning for new priorities; new learning needs and educational roles; responding to new realities in higher and K-12 education, education/industry partnerships, and business and industry role; and meeting the challenge with creative vision and action. Topics addressed by the 27 seminar papers in the second section include using distance education to reach out to underserved adult populations; live and interactive instruction; assessing effectiveness of interactive learning systems; the changing infrastructure; equality of educational opportunity; communications satellites; improving teacher/tutor performance in literacy and basic education; computer networks; effects of delivery systems on educational outcomes; the role of television in distance education; training distance educators; cross-cultural distance teaching; teleconferencing to meet individual needs; instructional design; assessing and supporting distance education courses; computer-based learning systems; and strategies for designing teleclassroom training programs. Most of the papers provide their own bibliographies. (DB)