Blackwell Reference Online

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Software programs and computer systems for organizing courses continue to grow in popularity and can be divided into two categories. The first category includes “standalone” computer hardware and software that is obtained by an institution and used onsite to deliver course-related content (intranet; →  Computers and Display Programs in Education ). The second category is a server environment capable of delivering content to anyone anywhere in the world via the world wide web (→  Internet ). Physical absence no longer prevents students from participating in an educational experience. A 2005 survey of 2,200 colleges by the Sloan Consortium reported that nearly 3.2 million students took at least one online course in the fall of 2005, up from 2.3 million in 2004 ( Carnevale 2006 ). Such programs can reach students who are physically or geographically unable to attend school. Some distance learners can interact with teachers and their peers on a daily basis (→  Distance Education ). Course organization programs facilitate the creation and delivery of text, graphics, and multimedia learning environments. In general, these programs deliver material that was previously only available in a traditional print-based format. Additionally, these systems provide students and teachers with instant access to email, course syllabi, calendars, discussions, blogs, live chat, collaborative conferences, ... log in or subscribe to read full text