Using the Internet as a Distance Learning Tool in Selected Secondary School Areas

Research for the use of computers in education continues to gain momentum. By reviewing the research that has been completed, educators and administrators may find solutions to problems and issues for integrating educational technology into their educational settings. Many tenets of educational technology integration are emerging. Committed leadership, staff development, curriculum integration, technical support, and planning for the future are just a few areas worthy of additional research. The research described here looked at these areas within a unique population of educators and administrators: the United States Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program. The purpose of this research was to analyze the perceptions of Senior Army Instructors (SAIs) toward the use of the Internet as a distance learning tool in meeting the stated desired learning outcomes of the JROTC program. The worldwide study was conducted in the 1998–1999 school year, covering 1,363 high school JROTC units. A total of 658 SAIs responded to both closed and open-ended questions regarding their level of knowledge and concern for using the Internet as a distance learning tool. This research indicates that the instructors currently using the Internet as a distance learning tool consistently had more positive perceptions than those instructors who were not using the Internet. In the qualitative portion, 683 comments were coded Common concerns that need to be resolved to fully unleash the potential of the Internet as a distance learning tool in the JROTC program are identified. Recommendations regarding further research and policy considerations are also made.