Distance learning in Micronesia: Participants‘ experiences in a virtual classroom using synchronous technologies

Abstract

Institutions of higher education that serve Pacific island communities often look for innovative ways to reach constituents who live on islands spread across more than 3 million square miles of ocean. Courses taught in distance learning formats provide islanders with opportunities to further their education without requiring them to leave the islands or take time off from their jobs to obtain bachelor's and other advanced degrees. However, there are several challenges to developing and delivering distance learning courses in this region. The islands are geographically dispersed and culturally and linguistically diverse. Islanders live in traditional societies that blend indigenous cultural norms with the forces of modernization and development. Many island communities are rural, remote, and sparsely populated. This article describes participants ' experiences in a distance learning course that used synchronous technology to create a virtual class environment to train teachers in the northern Pacific region known as Micronesia. While institutions of higher education and educational leaders in Micronesia have expressed enthusiasm for distance learning courses as a vehicle to train future educators in the islands, there is little literature describing the viewpoint of the target audience of these distance learning initiatives. To develop culturally responsive educational systems, it is important for distance learning providers to determine why and how people make use of distance learning opportunities and to understand what factors lead to successful