Videoconferencing changed Marci Powell’s life. Here the President Elect of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) talks to INTERFACE about her experiences and how you can make the most of this technology. Can we start by defining distance learning. What is it? Distance learning is any form of learning at a distance. Definition is very important in the way people conceive what it is. Some only think online learning. It could be anything from videoconferencing to … smoke signals. What impact has videoconferencing had? It’s been huge across the board in education. First and foremost, it’s providing educational equity, especially in a country like New Zealand where you have so many rural students. I was told about a school earlier where...   more

They’re a select and talented group that’s making a real difference to teachers across New Zealand. Chris Allott McPhee looks at the role of the ePrincipal. eLearning Clusters are an exciting and interesting place to be teaching and learning in New Zealand. These largely rural-based groups of schools across the country have a strong focus on personalizing learning, providing quality education and a broad curriculum to students, often through the Virtual Learning Network (VLN). Teachers and students use a range of interactive technologies including videoconferencing, websites, electronic whiteboards, learner management systems, email and phone as their way of ‘getting to class’ each day. However, the 168 VLN courses and programmes undertaken by nearly a thousand...   more