"VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS" DEBUT ON INTERNET NEXT WEEK!

When the Winter term at Spectrum Virtual University begins on January 29,
students and visitors to the campus on the World Wide Web will discover a
whole new approach to online learning. There are more than 20 classes in
categories such as Art & Creativity, World History & Future Trends, and
Leisure, Home & Personal Safety. Most of the classes are new, and so are
the "virtual classrooms" which resemble the real thing.

Students will be able to ask questions and participate in class discussions
through interactive bulletin boards in each classroom which offer powerful
message sorting and browsing options. Instructors will be able to host a
"Discussion Topic of the Week" and can even participate in ongoing
dialogue with students.

Weekly lessons and other study materials will be available on a "virtual
library shelf" in each classroom. Students can consult a "Homework
Calendar" for current assignments, and they can obtain their homework and
exam grades using a virtual reality "Gradebook" feature built into each
classroom.

"Web Class," the software that powers this extraordinary approach to online
learning, has been in development by Spectrum Universal for six years at a
cost of over $100,000. The program was originally designed for interactive
learning via touch-tone telephone. Developers have spent the past 18
months porting the software to run on the World Wide Web.

With "Web Class," we can do a whole lot more than just offer boring text,"
said Richard De A'Morelli, chief architect of the new software and
director of Spectrum Universal, a non-profit organization. Students can
participate in classes from anywhere in the world and actually get
involved in classroom activites on a day-to-day basis. They can
participate in online discussions and other activities in a virtual
environment that simulates the look and feel of a real classroom, De
A'Morelli explained.

Winter classes are being offered free of charge thanks to the efforts of
volunteer instructors and the sponsorship of Quarterdeck Corporation of
Marina del Rey, California. Quarter- deck publishes popular memory
management and Web-based software such as the award-winning Web Compass
and Internet Suite.

Students pre-enrolled in Winter classes can get a glimpse of their virtual
classroom at-- http://horizons.org/campus/ Those desiring a Calendar of
free Winter classes can send e-mail to Calendar@Horizons.Org
 
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