Distance Learning in Micronesia: Participants' Experiences in a Virtual Classroom Using Synchronous Technologies

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.