HOW CAN THE COMPUTER HELP STUDENTS IN THIS AGE OF LIFE LONG LEARNING?

Both the UK and Australia have long experience of distance learning and the problems which can emerge because of the students’ lack of social contact. In this paper the authors first consider the theoretical basis for the topic to be found in the work of Mead, Schutz and Kuhn. Then they consider the early research in both countries which show just how important this lack could be and how comparatively easily it could be repaired to provide a more genuine network-based experience. The authors present an account of some new work using on-line education, and the importance of synchronicity, including comments from the lecturer. In the final section the authors make links with the classic work of Perry in more traditional education. The difficulty of ambiguous information produces an urgent need for more social support, which can be satisfied by new computer intervention.