The Changing Faces of Virtual Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This document contains eight papers on the changing faces of virtual education. "Introduction" (Glen M. Farrell) presents an overview of the study during which the papers originated. "The Changing Venues for Learning" (Vis Naidoo) discusses innovative learning venues and forces driving and constraining their development. "The Continuing Evolution of ICT (Information and Computer Technology) Capacity: The Implications for Education" (Tony Bates) explores key emerging technologies and forces driving and constraining them. "Object Lessons from the Web: Implications for Instructional Development" (David Porter) examines the following topics: learning objects and structured information; ways structured content is developed; the structure of groups and their work; and implications for educational organizations, instructional developers, and learners. "The Provision of Learner Support Services Online" (Yoni Ryan) reviews options for providing learner support in distance education and issues for policymakers and managers. "The Development of New Organizational Arrangements in Virtual Learning" (Peter J. Dirr) reports on new virtual education institutions, consortia of institutions, commercial initiatives, and government-education alliances. "Quality Assurance" (Andrea Hope) explains the need for quality assurance in online education and ways of providing it. "Issues and Choices" (Glen Farrell) explores forces driving and constraining virtual education and myths, opportunities and risks of virtual education. (Some papers contain substantial bibliographies.) (MN)