Distance education in the future: Exploring the application of distributed group support systems

Distributed Group Support Systems (DGSS) provide a means for several individuals to interact with one another from different geographic locations using telecommunications and Group Support Systems (GSS) technologies. As this technology emerges, new applications will be sought to utilize the tremendous capabilities for long distance interaction and communication. One potential application of DGSS is its use in the delivery of Distance Education. Distance Education (DE) involves the delivery of education (or training) from one site to one (or more) geographically dispersed sites. The capability of DGSS to add an additional communications channel, one by which all students could interact with one another at the same time, provides an exciting array of opportunities for the application of DGSS. This article explores ways in which DGSS could be utilized to improve the delivery of education and training to dispersed locations. Background information of GSS and DE are provided Results of a case, study in which a fiber optic cable network was used for delivering a DE class on Information Systems are briefly highlighted, along with suggestions for future research in this area.

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