
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 11, 1995                   TAG: 9505110087
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BREEA WILLINGHAM
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PANEL MEETS ON `DISTANCE LEARNING'

Members of the Commission on the Future of Higher Education in Virginia met Wednesday in a three-way teleconference, speaking from Virginia Tech, George Mason University and Old Dominion University, to discuss the potential of distance learning.

"How are we going to be able to teach more students ... go after them faster; that's what the whole story is about," said George Mason President George W. Johnson.

Distance learning is similar to a typical academic learning environment where students sit in a class, listen to lectures and ask questions.

However, lectures can be picked up anyplace that has a satellite dish. Lectures also can be taped and viewed at a later time.

Described as "the blackboard of the 21st century," distance learning is designed to improve education for students and make it more accessible.

A video described some of the advantages of distance learning:

Professors can share information with each other.

Students can watch lectures from home.

Professors can provide class notes on the Internet so students can concentrate more on the class lecture rather than on taking notes.

Peggy Meszaros, Virginia Tech provost, described distance learning as "a phenomena around campuses" but stressed that it isn't going to replace teachers.

"It's one way to improve education for students, but it's not the only way."

by CNB