This article examines the reactions of participants to distance learn ing technology as used in a labor education setting. Participants in both distance and traditional labor education classes were asked for their opin ions about the course structure and content after completing the course. The results are somewhat surprising in light of the communications theo ries of media richness and social presence, finding that the participants in the distance classes were more satisfied than those in the traditional classes.
Barket, Randolph T., and Charles L. Holley .1996. "Interactive Distance Learning, Perspective and Thoughts." Business Communication Quarterly , 59, 4:88-99.
2.
Boshier, R.1989. "Participant Motivation." In C. Titmus (ed.), Lifelong Education For Adults: An International Handbook, 147-150, New York: Pergamon Press.
3.
Burke, Kelly, and Laku Chidambaram .1996. "Do Mediated Contexts Differ in Information Richness? A Comparison of Collated and Dispersed Meetings." Proceedings of the 29th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences—1996, ppg 92-101.
4.
Chidambaram, Laku, and Beth Jones.1993. "Impact of Communication Medium and Computer Support on Group Perceptions and Performance: A Comparison of Face-to-Face and Dispersed Meetings" MIS Quarterly, 1993 , 4: 465-491.
5.
Cohen, Jacob, and Patricia Cohen.1983. Applied Multiple Regression/Correlation Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, Hillsdale, New Jersey : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
6.
Collis, Betty A.1993. "Evaluating Instructional Applications of Telecommunications in Distance Education." Educational and Training Technology International, 30, 3: 266-274.
7.
Daft, R.L., and R.H. Lengel.1986. "Organizational Information Requirements, Media Richness and Structural Design." Management Science , 32, 5: 554-571.
8.
Davis, Fred D., Richard P. Bagozzi, and Paul R. Warshaw .1989. "User Acceptance of Computer Technology: A Comparison of Two Theoretical Models." Management Science, 35, 8: 982-1002.
9.
Fellers, J.W., and D.K. Moon.1995. "Distance Education in the Future: Exploring the Application of Distributed Group Support Systems" Group Decision & Negotiation. 4, 3: 273-286.
10.
Fulk, Janet, Joseph Schmitz, and Daehee Ryu.1995. "Cognitive Elements in the Social Construction of Communication Technology." ManagementCommunications Quarterly, 8, 3: 259-288.
11.
Henry, Gary T., and Kathleen C. Basile .1994. "Understanding the Decision to Participate in Formal Adult Education." Adult Education Quarterly, 44, 2: 64-82.
12.
Hezel, R.T., and P.J. Dirr.1991. "Understanding Television-Based Distance Education: Identifying Barriers to University Attendance." Research in DistanceEducation, 3, 1: 1-4.
13.
Keeley, Larry.1997. "Designing for an Educational Revolution." Educom Review, 32, 6: 12-14.
14.
Kember, David, Tammy Lai, David Murphy, Irene Siaw, and K.S. Yuen.1994. " Student Progress in Distance Education Courses: A Replication Study." Adult Education Quarterly, 45, 1: 286-301.
15.
Leidner, Dorothy, and Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa .1995. "The Use of Information Technology to Enhance Management School Education: A Theoretical View" MIS Quarterly, 1995, 3: 265-291.
16.
Lindeman, E.1961. The Meaning of Adult Education, Montreal : Harvest House.
17.
Opitz, Margaret. 1996. "Interactive Distance Learning: Implications for the Classroom Teacher ." The Clearing House, 69, 6: 325-27.
18.
Sheridan, David.1996. "Can Adults Learn at a Distance? And How Well?" Training,33, 11: 12-21.
19.
Short, J., E. Williams, and B. Christie.1976. The Social Psychology of Telecommunications . London: John Wiley and Sons.
20.
Smith, Constance Ridley.1996. "Taking the Distance out of Distance Learning." Training & Development, 50, 5: 87-91.
21.
Spencer, Bruce.1991. "Distance Education in British Trade Unions: Some Preliminary Results." Research in DistanceEducation, 3, 1: 6-8.
22.
Storck, John, and Lee Sproull.1995. "Through a Glass Darkly: What Do People Learn in Videoconferences? " Human Communication Research, 22, 2: 197-219.
23.
Thach, Elizabeth C., and Karen L. Murphy .1995. "Training via Distance Learning " Training & Development, 49, 12: 44-48.
24.
Verduin, John R., and Thomas A. Clark .1991. Distance Education, The Foundations of Effective Practice. San Francisco, Cal.: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
25.
Webster, Jane, and Linda Klebe Trevino .1995. "Rational and Social Theories as Complimentary Explanations of Communication Media Choices: Two Policy-Capturing Studies" Academy of Management Journal, 38, 6: 1544-1572.
