The Virtual Conference: Extending Professional Education in Cyberspace

Abstract

This paper describes the use of Internet based tools to support
\nprofessional interaction and education in a format known
\nas the virtual conference. The paper discusses characteristics
\nof the virtual conference and presents data from a case study
\nin which 550 distance educators from 36 countries participated
\nin a three week virtual conference. Results from a participant
\nsurvey and their comments illustrate that the virtual conference
\ncan provide high quality, interactive professional education.
\nThe asynchronous and distributed format of most virtual
\nconference activities allows busy professionals to participate
\nanytime/anyplace. However, the virtual conference does
\nnot ameliorate the need for participants to expend scarce resources
\nof time on their professional education.