Occasional Papers in Open and Distance Learning, Number 19

This document is a collection of four papers dealing with the issues of technology in higher education, distance education, and assessment practices. The first paper, "Integrating the Internet into Distance Education in Accounting at Charles Sturt University: An Assessment of Potential" (Jayne E. Bisman), explores the impact of the Internet on accounting education and research. It identifies Internet services and capabilities of particular interest to staff in the Faculty of Commerce and notes that Charles Sturt University (CSU) is competitively well placed to pursue innovative opportunities using the powerful capabilities of the Internet. The second paper, "Students' Commitments To Attend Residential Schools" (Dirk H. R. Spennemann), incorporates recent questionnaire data and focuses on the desirability of residential schools including such issues as face-to-face interaction, costs of attendance, and optional residential schools. The third paper, "Computer Information Technology Survey for the School of Agriculture" (Gavin Ash), shows how the School of Agriculture at CSU conducted a survey of computer use as a basis for planning. The fourth paper, "Assessment Practices at CSU" (Peter Donnan), addresses the assessment of students and presents nine practical assessment strategies which are presently being used in a small number of subjects at CSU, but which may have applications in a much broader spectrum of courses. (AEF)