Web-based distance continuing education: a new way of thinking for students and instructors

As people have more difficulty taking time away from work to attend confere nces and workshops, the idea of offering courses via the Web has become mor e desirable. Addressing a need voiced by Medical Library Association member ship, the authors developed a Web-based continuing-education course on the subject of the librarian's role in evidence-based medicine. The aim of the course was to provide medical librarians with a well-constructed, content-r ich learning experience available to them at their convenience via the Web. This paper includes a discussion of the considerations that need to be tak en into account when developing Web-based courses, the issues that arise wh en the information delivery changes from face-to-face to online, the changi ng role of the instructor, and the pros and cons of offering Web-based vers us traditional courses. The results of the beta test and future plans for t he course are also discussed.