Dr. Ann Martinez Speaks about the Distance Education Conference at Texas A & M

Martinez, please tell us about your professional background, and how you

have been associated with the Center for Distance Learning Research at 

Texas A&M  University since 1997. As Director of Training, I

am responsible for the development and delivery of training programs for

school districts, community colleges, universities, business and government/military

provides training through a series of certification programs offering

Continuing Education Units from Texas A&M as well as contracted

on-site training designed to meet the needs of specific customers.  

As Director of Program Evaluation, I develop independent evaluations

for both technology and literacy programs, as well as develop evaluation

plans for institutions to which the Center extends technical assistance.

to chair the 8^th DEC 2001 Conference. Under the leadership

of the CDLR team we initiated a web-based management system for the

conference. Call for papers were received via the conference

web page. The peer review of the presentations was conducted electronically. Conference registration and hotel reservations were completed

on the web site. Conference proceedings were distributed to conference

participants via CD format. Following the conference, the Conference

Proceedings and the two keynote addresses were posted on the Center

website. http://www.cdlr.tamu.edu/

will be the 9th year of the conference. How has it evolved over the years?

conference continues to reflect the level of technology implementation

and technology sophistication through the presentations. Each year we

have observed the content of presentations to be increasing in quality

of the keynote speakers will be Ms. Suzanne Dubose, President of Verizon

Foundation.  The Foundation

will invest $70 Million in the communities that the corporation serves

to increase literacy through technology support.. Also free pre-conference

is one of the leading states in distance education. How do you see the

conference is the pacesetter in technology conferences in Texas. 

It is small enough to allow quality networking opportunities, yet

attracts quality vendors as well as presenters from across the United

conference will continue to increase in quality as presenters bring outstanding

presentations and research.The most popular sessions continue to be the