(approx.30) are delivered by CAFE MONDIAL partners. Courses provided by Youandi 

GmbH and CAFE MONDIAL franchisees and members are presented on web. Students 

can automatically register and receive an ID and password to enter the virtual classroom 

located on FirstClass Intranet servers linked to WWW. 

   <34> Mostly, the web is used for presentation of content, i.e. information to the students. 

Materials for the course like texts and research reports to be used in the seminars. Most of 

the courses have also built in discussion forums. In the actual course the assignments are 

on the web pages, and the participants are encouraged to talk to each other by e mail, but 

mainly in the discussion forums. Commercial administrative system software, e.g. like 

FirstClass, is considered to be unsuitable and is not used. Software for web based 

communication is used. 

   <87> From our experience we have chosen to focus on the interaction process in using 

ICT (information and communication technology). This means that we are mainly 

distributing static material by ordinary post in order to present a good structured material 

concerning layout and form. WWW as one form of using the Internet is used for 

communication and producing an interactive process, student   preproduced material and 

student   tutor. The main part of our courses is based on First Class, since the interaction is 

easily performed there. 

   <75> The course is experimental and involves 50 students. The tools available generate 

dynamic HTML. The distance learning is based on First Class. This powerful tool for 

learning provides an environment characterized by discussion groups, conference rooms, 

e mail and other facilities. WWW is used for presentation and communication. 

   <106> The Web is only one of many online technologies used on the programs. Various 

groupware systems are used for synchronous and asynchronous interaction. Some are 

Web based and others are not. Because the department does not have large resources to 

draw upon, systems such as FirstClass have been ruled out as too expensive. Some of the 

courses in the program make little or even no use of the Web; others use it for teaching 

and course presentation. 

   <109> The Web is used for presentation, communication and teaching. Each student is 

assigned an Adviser whom they can contact by telephone or e mail. The course content 

consists of Web pages plus key texts. A residential weekend at the beginning of the course 

is optional. The courses uses First Class computer conferencing through a Web browser, 

for student and tutor interaction. The tutor provides personalized online feedback on 

students' work. Peer support is also encouraged. One innovatory aspect of this course is 

the use of an Answer Garden, as a form of machine tutoring in addition to the personal 

tutoring. An Answer Garden encourages student student interaction. Frequently asked 

questions remain in the `Garden' as a resource. Staff prune out the less useful interactions 

from one presentation of the course to the next. 

   <125> The Web front end to FirstClass provides administrative facilities, course content 

pages as well of course as conferencing. The Web is also used for pre course self 

assessment tests, course information and registration. Other media are also used: in fact 

most online courses require the student to buy an accompanying text book. New students 

are obliged to follow a one week orientation program to become familiar with the course 

software. The courses support student student interaction as well as tutor and 

administrative interactions, all through First Class conferences and e mail. 

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