I've been thinking about our proposed panel topic in light of the conversation that is emerging about on-line courses. It sounds like few of us actually have on-line courses. Is it premature to do this on-line distance ed. thing? We might all have more to say in two or three years from the sounds of people's comments like "I'm about to..." "I'm being forced to ... " develop on line stuff. I'd hate us to wind up trying to powwow on this topic when we've got neither the fuel for pow, nor the glamour for wow. I've seen many Cs presentations where the people are just starting out in the endeavour they are speaking of, and those talks are inevitably lame. Good talks involve people speaking from experience. Is there an area where we have stronger collective experience? Or maybe I should ask the question this way. Hands up all those who can actually talk about on-line distance ed.? If the number doesn't meet quorum, or if those who are experienced won't be going to Minneapolis, then the topic is a bust already. I can tell you that I have nothing to say, but I have a colleague here at Toronto, who has recently done a course, and when the official call comes, I will encourage her to respond. She is, I believe, the only one doing distance ed at To. (online or otherwise). Rob Irish ***************************************************** Dr. Robert Irish Coordinator of Language Across the Curriculum Applied Science and Engineering University of Toronto 416-978-6708 *****************************************************