Using an Education Server Software System to Deliver Special Education Coursework via the World Wide Web

Abstract

The World Wide Web (Web) has considerable potential for delivering distance education programs. A new genre of computer software programs is being developed to facilitate the management of instruction and communication among students and instructors who are involved with the delivery of Web-based instruction (WBI). One such program is the TopClass educational server software system. This investigation was designed to examine the feasibility of using TopClass to deliver University-based special education coursework via the Web. Procedures required to set up an education Web server were examined and a pilot study was performed to explore factors associated with the development and delivery of instructional content via TopClass. Student reactions to instruction delivered in the pilot test were positive. There also were indicators that learning occurred as a result of using the TopClass system. Issues related to the use of WBI were identified and questions for additional research were proposed.