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Integrat<strong>in</strong>g the use of the Web <strong>in</strong>to distance education, however, has more to offer than simply faster, more<br />

convenient communication for those who have access. By prepar<strong>in</strong>g a study guide that takes advantage of what<br />

the Web has to offer, a more <strong>in</strong>teractive experience can be offered to students, stimulat<strong>in</strong>g their motivation,<br />

curiosity, learn<strong>in</strong>g, and dialog. In the rema<strong>in</strong>der of this paper, a number of specific ideas for utiliz<strong>in</strong>g the Web<br />

to stimulate dialog <strong>in</strong> distance education will be discussed.<br />

• Basic HTML <strong>format</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g can be used to create a study guide that is easy and pleasant to use. Proper use of<br />

head<strong>in</strong>gs and text styles make pages that are easier to read. Authors should keep <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d download<strong>in</strong>g<br />

time, remember<strong>in</strong>g that students may be connect<strong>in</strong>g from home via a modem. Instructors should design<br />

pages that take advantage of HTML’s navigation capabilities: Include a navigable table of contents; New<br />

terms can be l<strong>in</strong>ked to def<strong>in</strong>itions; Use a standard navigation bar at the bottom of each page to get students<br />

to the next page, back to the table of contents, to assignments, to help, or to any other frequented page.<br />

• The ability to easily <strong>in</strong>clude graphics <strong>in</strong> text should be exploited. Aga<strong>in</strong>, <strong>in</strong>structors should keep <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d<br />

download<strong>in</strong>g time, but useful graphics (and even the occasional decoration) can enliven and clarify text.<br />

Charts, illustrations, and pictures can be utilized to help students to understand and to give them a visual<br />

reference for discussion. Also, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g a picture of the <strong>in</strong>structors on the <strong>in</strong>troduction page, and<br />

elsewhere perhaps even of the students, can give a face beh<strong>in</strong>d the voices. This simple effort may make<br />

some students feel more comfortable and will<strong>in</strong>g to voice their op<strong>in</strong>ions <strong>in</strong> discussions.<br />

• All pages should have a l<strong>in</strong>k to the <strong>in</strong>structors’ e-mail. People are becom<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly more<br />

comfortable communicat<strong>in</strong>g via e-mail. And, as far as speed and convenience is concerned, well<br />

function<strong>in</strong>g e-mail is hard to surpass. Of course, successful dialog via e-mail depends on the <strong>in</strong>structors’<br />

rapid response to students’ questions and comments. Instructors might want to suggest tak<strong>in</strong>g certa<strong>in</strong><br />

discussions to a more open forum, where more students could participate. While this can be done by<br />

forward<strong>in</strong>g e-mail messages, conferences are often more practical (to be discussed below). E-mail is also<br />

an excellent way for students to send <strong>in</strong> assignments, though clear <strong>in</strong>structions should be given concern<strong>in</strong>g<br />

file type and <strong>format</strong>.<br />

• CGI forms can contribute greatly to a more <strong>in</strong>teractive experience. Questions that students can answer “on<br />

the spot” can be <strong>in</strong>tegrated <strong>in</strong>to the text, allow<strong>in</strong>g students to “comment” directly dur<strong>in</strong>g their learn<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

This technique can be used to allow the student to give feedback to the <strong>in</strong>structor, to re<strong>in</strong>force learn<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

and to check comprehension. By ask<strong>in</strong>g the student to provide <strong>in</strong>put dur<strong>in</strong>g the learn<strong>in</strong>g experience, there<br />

is a greater chance of achiev<strong>in</strong>g active learn<strong>in</strong>g, where the student reflects on the material be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>troduced. By direct<strong>in</strong>g responses to a database, <strong>in</strong>structors can easily monitor students’ progress and<br />

provide feedback.<br />

• Sett<strong>in</strong>g up a special conference or chat group where students can freely discuss course issues, as well as be<br />

assigned discussion topics, can encourage students to use their newly ga<strong>in</strong>ed knowledge and learn from<br />

each other. Experience has show that an <strong>in</strong>itial assignment, requir<strong>in</strong>g participation, greatly helps to get<br />

students freely participat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> an electronic conference.<br />

These few simple suggestions show that the Web can be a useful medium <strong>in</strong> distance education. While the<br />

problems with us<strong>in</strong>g the Web <strong>in</strong> distance education—most significantly, student access to the <strong>in</strong>ternet and the<br />

major <strong>in</strong>vestment required <strong>in</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g advanced HTML author<strong>in</strong>g—have hardly been addressed, the potential<br />

the Web offers for creat<strong>in</strong>g an active learn<strong>in</strong>g situation make it worth serious consideration for distance<br />

education.<br />

References<br />

[Berglund 1993] Berglund, S. (1993). Teknik och media i distansundervisn<strong>in</strong>gen, rapport nr 3, Distansutbildn<strong>in</strong>g i<br />

utveckl<strong>in</strong>g (Technologies and media <strong>in</strong> distance education, report nr 3, Distance Education <strong>in</strong> Development). Umeå,<br />

Sweden: Umeå Universitet.<br />

[Bååth 1994] Bååth, J. (1994). Distansutbildn<strong>in</strong>gs grunder (The basics of distance education). Saltsjöbaden, Sweden:<br />

DU Konsult.<br />

[Bååth 1996] Bååth, J. (1996). Handbok för distans utbildare (A handbook for distance educators). Stockholm:<br />

Utbild<strong>in</strong>gsförlaget Brevskolan.<br />

[Holmberg 1989] Holmberg, B. (1989). Theory and practice of distance education. London: Routledge.<br />

[Spencer 1986] Spencer, S. (1986). A model for select<strong>in</strong>g distance education delivery systems. Cont<strong>in</strong>uum, 50, 143-152.

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