Use of Internet video-conferencing technology for distance education in agriculture

Two graduate level Citriculture courses were taught in the Fall 1997 and Spring 1998 semesters using low cost Internet Video-Conferencing Technology (IVCT). The courses were taught to groups of students at three different locations. Although current capabilities of low-cost IVCT are limited, IVCT allowed all groups to engage in highly interactive academic discussions. This paper describes the IVCT systems used in class, reports on experiences gained, and speculates on the future use of low-cost IVCT in distance education programs.