This popular list puts out quite a few messages, so you may want to sign up for the digest version. But who could pass up interesting dialogue like this?:

"I am a lecturer teaching economics at the University of South Africa - a distance education institution. We are on the verge of entering the world of teaching via the WWW. In a recent survey students with access to the WWW indicated that they would like the following: downloading of study material, interactive courses, self evaluation test, chat rooms and e-mail.

"I am currently looking at different delivery mechanisms. At present our courses are print based and consist of a study guide and a number of tutorial letters with are delivered via the postal system (which are not functioning as well as it should)

"This is my plan of action:

"Create a Web site for every course with all the study material available in HTML with the appropriate links. Give students the option to download this complete Web site onto their computer or disk.

"It is then delivered in the following ways:

"WWW: This is aimed at students who have access to the WWW. Access can be from a home computer, office computer, local library, cyber café, etc. Students then have the option to download the complete Web site - with all the study material and enhanced features - onto their hard drive or diskette.

"Most students in South Africa do not have direct access to the Web (it is very expensive) but many do have computers at home and can get access through libraries, offices, computer centers, etc. They will then download it and install it on their home computer.

"E-mail: In this case a student will request the relevant study material and the complete Web site are then send to the student.

"A large number of students have e-mail but not full access to the WWW.

"Diskettes: These are for students who do not have access to the Internet but have access to a home computer. In this case the Web site can be copied onto a diskette and sent to the student.

"Am I on the right track?

"As an experiment I have completed this process for a course and would like your comments on it. If you are interested to look at it please e-mail me."