Tools for Distance Education: Toward Convergence and Integration (Emerging Technologies‪)‬

Interest in the remote delivery of language instruction has increased significantly in recent years. As the Internet has displaced synchronous video as the preferred platform for distance education, the dramatically lower cost and more modest technical requirements of Web delivery make it a feasible option for a much broader range of educational institutions. More broadband connections along with the widespread availability of DVD players allow for incorporation of high-quality video into distance ed courses, while new Internet audio tools make two-way voice communications possible. The power and flexibility of the XML programming environment, now widely deployed on the Internet, make new convergences of educational and entertainment environments possible. New Web Options