| The effectiveness of videoconferencing in | | | | For example, in a rural school with one |
| long distance learning is rapidly becoming | | | | teacher for seventh grade, it is unlikely |
| more apparent. Studies have consistently | | | | that the teacher will specialize in multiple |
| proven that students receiving | | | | subjects such as algebra, geometry, calculus, |
| distance-learning training learn as | | | | and geography. Distance learning technologies |
| effectively as students in traditional | | | | can connect these rural students with |
| classrooms. | | | | teachers who specialize in these subjects and |
| | | | many others. Team teaching across hundreds of |
| Videoconferencing provides a visual and | | | | miles becomes a reality. |
| auditory context for learning, and it is the | | | | |
| most convenient way ofcing the atmosphere of | | | | Videoconferencing has changed the way |
| a conventional classroom. It allows | | | | university students obtain their degrees. |
| interaction with previously unreachable | | | | Because of improved videoconferencing |
| individuals and information. | | | | capabilities, many students take courses from |
| | | | professors they never see face to face. They |
| Distance learning can be defined simply as an | | | | watch lectures from remote sites, or download |
| involvement of students and teachers who are | | | | lectures and assignments over the Internet; |
| separated by time and space. Distance | | | | and correspond with classmates and faculty by |
| education first emerged in the nineteenth | | | | Email, list servers and chat groups. They |
| century, when it was called a correspondence | | | | attempt to reach students who, because of |
| course. Today, distance education commonly | | | | jobs, location, or other constraints, cannot |
| refers to the use of videoconferencing | | | | take courses in a traditional classroom at a |
| technologies as delivery modes. | | | | defined time. |
| | | | |
| Effective learning occurs in urban cores, | | | | Recent studies have shown that long distance |
| rural settings, universities, and employee | | | | learners felt that learning networks provided |
| training. | | | | better access to their professor. Students in |
| | | | a survey also believed that they got better |
| Videoconferencing significantly broadens | | | | grades than in a face-to-face course, perhaps |
| learning opportunities. Adult education has | | | | because the social inhibitions were gone and |
| become much more accessible. Since videos | | | | they felt more comfortable taking an active |
| face-to-face context engages any student, the | | | | part. |
| adult learner benefits from videoconferencing | | | | |
| as much as the youngest primary student. | | | | Distance learning can be an effective way to |
| Video can effectively capture cultural | | | | train a work force. The benefits of distance |
| context to enhance the learning experience. | | | | learning are that it is a cost-effective way |
| | | | to train a widely dispersed workforce, saving |
| Urban schools have embraced the concept of | | | | on travel expenses and time away from work. |
| videoconferencing in long distance learning. | | | | It provides flexibility convenient for |
| A variety of challenges confront large urban | | | | individual schedules, allowing learning to |
| school districts. They bear the | | | | take place anytime, anywhere. And it gives |
| responsibility of providing students with | | | | companies a good way to retain their most |
| low-cost, high quality educational services. | | | | valuable employees. |
| In addition, urban schools often face large | | | | |
| numbers of adult learners. | | | | Distance learning enables learning to be |
| | | | self-directed, provides a high level of |
| Adult educational needs range from basic | | | | training, and makes it easier for businesses |
| literacy to career planning, training, and | | | | and organizations to achieve their goals and |
| placement. Constricted by decreased funding, | | | | objectives. |
| lack of transportation, and street safety | | | | |
| issues, urban schools are turning to distance | | | | Learning via videoconferencing is valuable in |
| education as a means of delivering | | | | another way, regardless of who the learner |
| educational services. | | | | might be. The benefits are obvious. |
| | | | |
| Teachers in rural areas across the country | | | | Video learning is like having a live virtual |
| are finding ways to use videoconferencing. | | | | classroom where everyone connects to the same |
| Given the sometimes-extreme distances between | | | | server at the same time. An instructor is |
| school districts and towns, teachers need a | | | | present to teach the content, and electronic |
| way to deliver specialized content to rural | | | | tools allow for hand raising and interaction. |
| students despite geographic barriers. One of | | | | Nothing is lost in translation; all the |
| the greatest benefits of distance learning is | | | | components of traditional education are in |
| that it breaks down traditional geographic | | | | place. Individuals trained effectively with |
| barriers. Effective videoconferencing helps | | | | videoconferencing can be trained whenever |
| students learn about topics that otherwise | | | | needed. Being able to teach in smaller |
| might not be accessible to them. | | | | chunks, in a timely manner, means that |
| | | | learning is retained. |