DISTANCE LEARNING EFFECTIVENESS STUDY - The Institute for Higher Education Policy notes that "there is a relative paucity of true, original research dedicated to explaining or predicting phenomena related to distance learning." The authors of the study, entitled "What's the Difference?", draw three broad conclusions from their findings: 1. The notion of "access to college" in the distance learning context is unclear; 2. Technology cannot replace the "human factor" in higher education; 3. Although the purpose of research is to assess how technology affects learning and student satisfaction, the results seem to indicate that technology "is not as important as other factors, such as learning tasks, learner characteristics, student motivation, and the instructor." To obtain the entire report, go to the IHEP Website at: http://www.ihep.com/PUB.htm (E-News From UCEA - 28 April, 1999)

DIVISION OVER INTERNET LEARNING - Two new studies being released this week question the value of online college courses. The College Board says in its reports that Internet courses could put underprivileged students who have less exposure to computers at a disadvantage. They will arrive at school with less computer knowledge and thus be less prepared for online courses. "There's this rush to get online and go virtual," says College Board researcher Larry F. Gladieux. "Colleges, policy makers, and Internet providers who are driving this market need to think about broad access." The College Board is concerned that schools facing budget cuts might be lured online by pitches from technology providers that online learning cuts the costs of real-world learning. But colleges must realize that a technical divide exists, as only 20 percent of low-income households own a computer. Meanwhile, the Institute for Higher Education Policy says in its report that Internet-based education is too new and untested to justify its rapid growth in colleges. The report notes that there is a higher dropout rate of 32 percent for online classes, compared to just 4 percent for real-world classes. (Associated Press 7 April 99 - Edupage - 7 April 99)

INTO THE FUTURE - A five-year research project, Oxygen, was launched April 12 by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Pentagon's research arm. The project will reinvent all facets of information technology from chips and software to computers and networks. In this "oxygenated digital new world" computers will recede to the background. Instead of 'going to the computer,' this environment will respond to point and click remotes and to our voices. The project is the brainchild of the lab's director, Michael Dertouzous. (Wisconsin State Journal, 5 April 99)