1. When will all the content be put on the web pages of this reference center?

- Answer: In March and April 2004 the existing content will be gradually completed, and all the content will be completed by July 2004.

2. What information will the web pages of the Reference center for teaching methods and communication contain?

- Answer: The pages of the reference center will include topics from several fields: pedagogy and teaching methods in distance education, communication and motivation processes, communication tools in e-education, influence of technology on the process of education, marketing and promotion of LMS systems. Most of the content will be from pedagogy and communication in distance education, as well as Internet communication technologies.

3. What are teaching methods in e-education?

- Answer: Teaching methods in e-education refer to principles, techniques and organisation of instruction through LMS systems for online education. More precisely, they include approaches to instruction ( individual or group) , chronological organisation of the instruction (synchronous or asynchronous) , methods of examination and knowledge check (e.g. testing) , mentor communication and design of interaction between the participants (chats, forums etc . ) , as well as other topics. This presupposes the use of the Internet and web for e-education, as there are also systems based on other models, as well as technologies for communication and content presentation.

4. Why is it not enough for effective e-education to simply put educational content on the web?

- Answer: For example, simply publishing an expert book will not ensure that the students learn its content. The process of acquiring certain knowledge (educational content) needs to be organized, implemented and controlled. Just as in higher education, this is also the basis of e-education.

5. What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous learning?

- Answer: In synchronous learning the sending and receiving of information between the instructor and a participant is practically same-time. With asynchronous learning every participant uses the instructional materials and knowledge check at the time most convenient for them, i.e. the learning process does not happen at the same time for different participants.

6. Who manages the learning process in LMS: instructor or participants?

- Answer: The participation of the instructor and the participants in the managing of e-education process can vary from the dominant role of the instructor , as in webcasting, to the dominant role of the participants , as in the use of courses such as those on a CD-ROM. There are other possibilities between these two extremes, such as a lecture with questions and answers and, for example, a self-paced system, where the participants pace the learning themselves, while the instructor monitors their progress.

7. Are LMS more suitable for business organisations or higher education institutions?

- Answer: More and more business organisations are using LMS systems and evaluations show that up to 50% of education in modern corporations is based on such systems. Modern universities in the world also insure many online courses for their students, while some have even developed one-year or multiannual programs based mostly on e-education. However, business organisations are more directed towards asynchronous types of education, while university programs prefer more or less synchronous systems where students begin and/or finish certain online theme blocks and exams at a certain hour, on a certain day or in a certain week.

8. Can the process of learning the content be accelerated in an LMS if a user is already familiar with certain content?

- Answer: Nonflexible LMS require a student to pass through all the scheduled content and types of instruction. However, some systems check the previous knowledge before going through a certain theme block or a “lesson”. If the participants demonstrate that they are familiar with most of the content, they are allowed to “skip” to the next “lesson” or theme block. After that the check can be repeated for the content of the new lesson and once again allow the “skipping” to the next lesson if necessary. The described process significantly accelerates the learning process for the users who are already familiar with part of the content. It should be noted, of course, that there are also systems in which a participant is free to choose content on their own and only go through the lessons and instruction types they want to go through.

9. Is communication with an instructor or mentor important for the use of an LMS?

- Answer: There aren’t many LMS that have solved all possible open issues related to technology that needs to be acquired, the organisation of the learning process and the instructional content to an extent which would enable all the users to use it without additional instructions. That is why great importance is given to the possibility of communication with the instructor or mentor who could, when needed, provide users with all necessary explanations and additionally motivate them.

10. What is the purpose of the forum in an e-education system?

- Answer: Forums (fora) serve for exchange of ideas and opinions between the users of an LMS, to help them solve different problems or doubts, for socialization and fulfilling the social needs, as well as for sustaining the users’ sense of community. Forums also enable two-way communication with the instructor or mentor in which all students can participate.

11. Do the participants like e-education systems?

- Answer: Independent technologically prepared and motivated participants, who prefer asynchronous learning and less resource investment for transport to the instruction venue, generally prefer online education system. However, many participants without necessary computer resources and sufficient computer literacy, as well as those who consider social contact and the possibility of face-to-face communication with the mentor important, usually have negative experiences with e-education systems. Sometimes over 60-70% of users decide to give up using an e-education system for various reasons.

12. What recommendations would you give regarding the existing links to communication tools and other content on the web?

- Answer: One of the greatest shortcomings of e-education systems compared to traditional instruction is lack of social interaction. Communication tools enable more social contact with the mentor, as well as between the participants of the distance education system. Using communication tools will enable the users to solve many problems through communication with other participants, as well as to contact the mentor and get help with difficulties they might experience in mastering the content or the technology. We analysed the communication tools in detail and would recommend you to choose the tools that require small investments and are easy to use. In other words, select the tools that are equally appropriate for the technical foreknowledge of the instructor/mentor and for that of the students/participants, while meeting the basic objectives with an acceptable price of purchase, implementation and maintenance. Contact us if you need a more detailed recommendation or if you are uncertain about your choice. In addition, we recommend that you look at the suggested links to content on the web enabling access to selected web sites with scientific, expert and applied content in the field of pedagogy in e-education. The most useful links with practical advice have been placed at the top of the page, while scientific and expert content can be found on the online journal pages.

13. What is the quickest and easiest way to contact the team of the Reference center for teaching methods and communication in e- education?

- Answer: Call us on the official mobile phone number (see Homepage ) or leave a message on the answering machine, and we will contact you. A videoconference with the team members through MS NetMeeting can also be arranged.

14. What literature would you recommend?

- Answer: Apart form the links you can find on the center’s pages, we recommend books on e-education which we examined and for which we have put together a summary and awarded a grade (ranging from 1-10).