THE USE OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION IN DISTANCE EDUCATION - PROGRESS, PROBLEMS, AND TRENDS

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is fast becoming one of the most versatile educational technologies used in distance education. CMC has already been used in a variety of instructional tasks in primary and secondary education, university courses, and community-based education around the world. Sometimes the veritable explosion of CMC activity makes it difficult to grasp the prevalence and diversity of its applications in both developed and developing countries. This paper provides researchers and practitioners with a global overview of the current range of CMC implementations. Within an international context, it discusses some continuing barriers to CMC's expanded use like student access and teacher training; notes some significant trends in areas like software development and cross-cultural study; and suggests some possible future developments in the use of CMC in distance education.