Combining Distance Education and Web Applications for a Course on Collaboration in Special Education.

A Web site called the "Teachers Lounge" was created to enable group assignments for distance education students taking a televised teacher education course on collaboration and consultation in special education. The primary component of the Web site was case studies of four fictitious children in various grades whose teachers were seeking advice or information. Students participated by contributing to the Web site at least four times. A survey about their Internet use was returned by 53 students. The majority of students reported using online services at least several times per week, but most had never taken a course with an Internet or Web site component. The vast majority of students reported little or no anxiety about the Internet component of this course, although three students had very high levels of anxiety about using the site. A survey evaluating the Web site was returned by 51 students. Results found that students enjoyed the realism and quality of the vignettes and the comparing of others' perspectives on the situations to their own. Students wanted more frequent updates of information or more vignettes to respond to, and noted difficulties in accessing the site at various times. The bulletin board component of the Web site was not accessed as often as the vignettes. Thirty-seven students indicated that the activities increased their comfort about using an interactive Web site. Suggestions for improvement include additional collaboration among academic disciplines, students in related fields, and students from other regions. (TD)