Interactive Distance Learning over Intranets KURT MALY, HUSSEIN ABDEL-WAHAB, C. MICHAEL OVERSTREET, J. CHRISTIAN WILD, AJAY GUPTA, ALAA YOUSSEF, EMILIA STOICA, AND EHAB S. AL-SHAER Old Dominion University Many distance learning systems claim to be interactive, but few can offer two-way video, on-the-fly interaction, and application sharing. The authors describe the Interactive Remote Instruction system, which links sites over a high-speed intranet. Distance learning — education without a central classroom — has helped busy people obtain college credits or complete training they might otherwise not have done. Methods of distance learning range from simple correspondence courses and broadcast TV with reverse audio to specialized video conferencing tools, such as Proshare or Flashback, and Web-based courses. The current version of Old Dominion University’s Teletechnet system, for example, uses broadcast satellite technology with terrestrial audio feedback from students and e-mail to connect the main campus in Norfolk, Virginia, to up to 23 community colleges throughout the state, as well as selected industrial and government sites. More than 3,000 students are enrolled in Teletechnet. However, limitations in the technologies supporting Teletechnet and similar systems become critically apparent as the demand for them continues to rise. To address these limitations, our research group built the Interactive Remote Instruction system, which allows students at