Occasional Papers in Distance Education. Number 9.

This collection of documents contains four papers: (1) "An Orientation Seminar for Prospective Wine Science and Viticulture Students" (A. V. Hood), which describes an innovation organized by staff involved in the external teaching of wine science and viticulture who sought to break down the barriers and concerns of prospective students contemplating enrolling in these programs in 1990; (2) "Electronic Mail Evaluated: A Case Study" (T. R. Frost and D. W. Roberts), which reports on the use of electronic mail to promote faculty-student communication in a database systems course; (3) "Workers Compensation for Distance Educators...A Few Problems and Possible Solutions" (B. C. Williamson), which explores issues affecting academic staff involved in off-campus or off-shore residential school situations; and (4) "Data Communications and Distance Education" (R. E. Moore), which recommends that the process of media selection for distance education be informed by learning theory. References are provided in each of the papers. (GL)