What does electronic conferencing afford distance education?

Abstract : Technology is potentially offering many opportunities to extend and expand distance learning in the higher education sector. Electronic conferencing, in particular, is seen as a technique, which offers opportunities for course delivery and methods of interaction for distant learners. This paper examines the similarities and differences between face-to-face seminars and on-line discussions. Through the concept of affordance it is shown that both benefits and limitations for interaction exist for real and virtual meetings.