WORLD WIDE WEB SITES

All of the WWW sites listed here have been checked and are active as of January 1, 2002. If they are no longer available when you check them out, let everyone know via our listserv. I have tried to describe each one briefly if the key words do not adequately reveal their contents. Of course, signing on to one site may lead to many others. If you discover additional sites that you feel are especially valuable, let us know about them.

Today, WWW sites offer some of the best specific and current information about distance learning. The sites are, in fact, used by many institutions as the vehicle for delivering distance learning. The list contains: (1) WWW sites that provide information about distance learning and (2) those that deliver actual courses.

ABOUT DISTANCE EDUCATION

For an overview of distance education (an excellent complement to the textbook):

http://www.uidaho.edu/evo/distglan.html

For a comprehensive resource on K-12 education, this site emphasizes distance learning in the Los Angeles (CA) County School District:

http://teams.lacoe.edu

An overview of copyright laws and their application to distance education settings and a "crash course" in copyright can be found on:

http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/cprtindx.htm

For a self-quiz about being a distance education student and guidelines for studying at a distance:

http://grossmont.gcccd.cc.ca.us/grossmontonlin/online.htm (click on "Are you a good candidate for online learning?")

Simon Frasure University in Canada offers some excellent advice through one of the pioneers in computer mediated communication, Linda Harasim:

http://virtual-u.cs.sfu.ca/vuweb

Check the online Journal of Library Services for Distance Education at:

http://www.westga.edu/library/jlsde/

A comprehensive source about distance education (from my biased point-of-view) is located at:

http://ericir.syr.edu/ (Click on Educational Technology or Distance Education)

Select "Distance Education" from the list. It is current.

The British Open University

http://www.open.ac.uk/frames.html

This general introductory page to the extensive OU presence on the net. Includes links to all other OU pages plus general information on OU courses.

Select "Learner's Guide" and the Fact Sheets. If you cannot locate it, try:

http://www-iet.open.ac.uk/iet/iet

The IET (David Hawkridge's home base) is the location of the world's largest group of distance education developers and researchers. Also available on this site is a connection to the International Centre for Distance Learning (ICDL) which describes services available including CD-ROM and online databases as well as planned future developments.

Distance Education Clearinghouse

http://www.uwex.edu/disted/home.html

This site provides general information on distance education including definitions, models, and historical notes.

Institute for Distance Education - University of Maryland

http://www.umuc.edu/ide/ide.html

Provides general information on distance education including structural models and papers.

Distance Learning Resources

http://info.aes.purdue.edu/acs/disted.html

Describes Purdue University's structure of their Distance Education and Information Technology Unit, including a mission statement, goals and objectives, and proposed strategies to meet them. A good resource for those looking for information on how to plan a distance education program.

Collection of articles and research papers of relevance to design, development and implementations of Web-based instruction.

http://www.wested.org/tie/dlrn/articles.html

Some additional sites:

Samples and demonstrations of courses offered by the California Virtual University:

http://www.california.edu/tour.html

The Commonwealth of Learning in Canada describes the development of distance education worldwide:

http://www.col.org/virtualed

For information about distance learning in the Southeastern U.S. through the Southern Regional Education Board:

http://www.electroniccampus.org/policylab/index.html

ACTUAL COURSES

These sources provide examples of learning at a distance. Some are very good, others are useless. Some courses are short and usually free; others require some payment. DO NOT SIGN-UP FOR A COURSE WITH A PRICE UNLESS YOU DEFINATELY WANT TO PAY FOR IT. Do review several of the free courses for analytical purposes.