Teaching computing at a distance

Summary form only given. Distance education enables students who are unable to attend classes on a regular basis (for reasons such as work or family commitments, disability or geographical location) to complete degrees in their own time and at their own preferred location. While providing these study opportunities has been the primary reason that universities have specialized in distance learning, increasingly educational institutions are viewing distance learning as a means of broadening their student base, often in answer to political pressures. Before deciding to offer courses at a distance, consideration must be given to: how, by whom and for whom the courses will be developed; what professional support is needed and available to assist with development; the support structures that will be put in place for the students; the logistics and mechanics of assessment; the equipment and software to which the students must have access; the courses that will benefit from integrating technologies in their preparation and teaching; what is a reasonable class size; and so forth. Today consideration must be given also to the costs and benefits of: multimedia; interactive distance learning via satellites; and computer mediated courses. This paper considers aspects of these issues from various perspectives.