Technology in Instructional Delivery: The Case of Capella University The use of technology, particularly Internet technology, in instructional delivery in educational institutions has revolutionized the way people access and utilize educational information. Online instructional delivery, either in mixed (combination of traditional and online modes of instruction) or purely online formats, have made learning more interactive, not only between the learner and the tool, but also between the teacher and learner and among learners themselves. This increasing demand for an online mode of instruction delivery in educational institutions is a reflection of the need to not only adopt the new technology, but also to 'manipulate' this technology to suit the users' learning needs (Koschmann, 1996:8). The following description of the technology of instructional delivery at Capella University demonstrates this point.

In addition to its traditional format of instructional delivery, which is face-to-face classroom setting, Capella University has an online learning system that is used as a platform to promote its e-college. Inquiring about the technologies the University has for its online mode of learning, Capella University boasts of 200+ computer desktops equipped with its own online learning system, both for the use of students from the traditional classroom set-up and for instructors and students of the online learning system (when...

When asked for the general hardware specifications of their computers, Capella University's Administration Office reported that over the years, there have been improvements in specific computers that some are running faster than the others. At the very least, however, each computer runs using a Pentium processor, has Windows 95/98/2000 as operating system, is enabled for Internet connections, and has three browsers available for the user's own preference: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome.
However, in terms of software specifications, Capella University equips its computers with the following items and browser features: (1) required items- browser vendor such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome, Acrobat Reader plug-in version 9.0 or better, Flash plug-in version 10.0 or better, and Microsoft Media Player plug-in version 11.0 or better; and (2) browser features- Java-enabled with version 1.6.0_24 or better, Sun Microsystems as the Java Vendor, and must be cookie-supported and -- enabled. In addition to these basic software requirements, a number of computers have been installed with specific software programs specific to the course the computer is being used for. For example, for social science learners, computers assigned to the course are installed with Statistical Package for Social Science or SPSS version 15.0, while multimedia and communication learners will have to use computers installed with Adobe CS program. However, as of the time researcher called to inquire about…