Distance learning’s explosion on the internet

Abstract

DISTANCE LEARNING (DL) is education’s gold rush. Many adults need convenience if they are to initiate or finish college degrees. This article, focusing on Distance Learning and the Internet, is divided into three sections. The first section consists of an introduction to the world of DL On-line and includes a four-step road map of success for DL students. The steps are: self-education about DL issues; defining personal, career, education, and financial needs; choosing a DL program; and finding and keeping DL resources and support. The second section deals with the nine different DL applications found on the Internet, the international computer network with over 50 million users. These include: DL Newsgroup discussions; World Wide Web DL information home pages; Financial Aid Web Sites; DL University Home Pages on the Web; Electronic Mailing Lists and Listservs, E-mail Resources; On-line Services; Tutoring On-line; and MOOs (Mind Oriented Object) known as “virtual classrooms.” The final section contains a bibliography of useful DL books, journals, and software catalogs for people who are interested in learning more about DL.