How computer networks are changing teaching and learning in higher distance education

Lin Ying
Yunnan Radio & TV University,
Kunming, China

The rapid development of computer networks worldwide has had a major impact on society -- and on distance education. However, as a large country with a very large population, China's economic development has led to uneven development of its computer networks.

As computer networks have an important role to play in distance higher education, educators need to examine how they can be best utilized. This paper uses China's Radio and TV Universities as an example of how to approach the changes in teaching and learning brought about by computer networks in terms of both theory and practice. Instructional ideas, strategies and techniques are discussed in detail and some proposals are put forward for ways of adapting teaching and learning.