The American Center for the Study of Distance Education (ACSDE)
A network of scholars who have a common interest in studying, teaching, and doing research in the field of distance education.

Making Sense of Learning Specifications and Standards
Report on state of standardizations of Learning Objects and relevance for future development of online education. [770K pdf file]

Communities and the Information Society:
This overview of the state and potential of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in education has been prepared by I. Byron and R. Gagliardi of the International Bureau of Education (IBE) for the International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC).

Distance Learning for Change in Africa
This research focuses on information with respect to : institutions programmes and courses, target groups, learning models, available information technology, student support, resources and cost, human resources and expertise available, future needs and plans in distance learning. It also looks at concessions and procurement of information technology applicable in African developing countries to distance learning.

Distance Education and the WWW
Gives an overview of the state of art in the distance learning domain and its recent evolution.

The Internet As An Educational Tool
Making the web work for South Africa - article by Edward P Rybicki, University of Cape Town.

Knowledge Integration Environment
The KIE Project pioneers the educational use of the World Wide Web for middle and high school science instruction.

Information Society Standardization System (ISSS)
De facto online consortium for European trends in online education standardization.

SchoolNet, Africa, and the IDRC
This paper represents a response to the need of the IDRC for an understanding of Canada's SchoolNet in the context of Acacia, the initiative promoting the application of Information and Communication Technologies for development in sub-Saharan Africa.

ISO/IEC JTC1 SC36
Latest documentation on standards on information technology for learning, education and training.

The Teletraining Institute
Provides a practical laboratory where teachers, corporate trainers, government instructors, and others can learn and explore the skills and methods specific to the growing field of distance education.

Centre for Advanced Learning Technologies (CALT)
Europe's leading R&D initiative in the domain of advanced learning technologies for management education and knowledge management.

Distance Learning in Higher Education
Summaries of and links to reports covering topics related to distance learning, mainly as it applies to high schools and colleges.

American Distance Education Consortium - On-Line Resources
Topics include: intellectual property, copyright, and fair use information, reports and papers, and collaboratories.

What's The Difference?
A review of contemporary research on the effectiveness of distance learning in higher education. This is a pdf file of size about 150K.

"Teaching for Learning" - Best Practice in Tertiary Course Design
An e-book that helps with the design of best practice courses for the digital age. Reviews, overview, sample chapter, and ordering details.

International Research Foundation for Open Learning (IRFOL)
Carries out research in open and distance learning in all parts of the world but with a particular focus on developing countries. It has particular interests in basic education, teacher education, higher education and the use of technologies. Find research, reports, related links, and contact details.

Advanced Distributed Learning Network (ADLNet)
ADLNet sets the standards for the SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model.)

Learning Technologies Workshop homepage
Workshop within CEN/ISSS that produces reports on critical standardization areas for Europe.

ARIADNE Foundation Home
ARIADNE projects focus on the development of tools and methodologies for producing, managing and reusing computer-based pedagogical elements and telematics supported training curricula.

Needs Assessment for Distance Learning
Sherry, L., & Morse, R. (1995). An assessment of training needs in the use of distance education for instruction. International Journal of Educational Telecommunications,1(1), 5-22

Digital Learning Communities: Promoting Democracy through Education
This online course gives an academic perception of the future role of online education. Requires purchase to take the course.

Issues in Distance Learning
Theories and philosophies of distance education are dealt with in this article by L. Sherry, (1996).

The Evolution of Distance Learning
Research paper containing the definition of distance education, and who needs it.

elearningpost
Provides news and views into the process and practice of e-learning. From knowledge managment to learning design and from usability to strategy, it caters to those responsible for making it work in their organizations.

Quality Online Education - New Research Agendas
This paper describes current debates within quality assurance and online delivery policies within universities and proposes four themes as ways to consider these debates and their relationships with each other.