To print this page, select "Print" from the File menu of your browser salon.com > Technology June 19, 1999 URL: http://www.salon.com/tech/chal/1999/06/19/chal_23 21st Challenge No. 23 Half-baked long distance learning schemes. - - - - - - - - - - - - By Charlie Varon and Jim Rosenau Time was, to earn a degree and qualify for a professional career, one had to physically attend an institution of higher learning, with all its ancillary costs -- the heavy books, cramped housing and binge drinking. Cyberspace changes everything. Online distance learning promises an education faster, better, cheaper and without the bother of human interaction. Readers are challenged to submit a course description (maximum 60 words) for an inappropriate online learning experience. E X A M P L E Fundamentals of Chiropractic: Let the keyboard be your first patient! Learn to realign spines (CTRL+TAB+@), ease neck strain (Alt+F5) and more (F10). The proper amount of finger pressure and you'll be rewarded with a grateful sigh.wav. Too much pressure, and our software responds with one of 50 distinct groans. $495 includes framed certificate of completion. Accreditation pending. R U L E S Send your submissions via e-mail only to salon21st@salon.com. Please include your full name and an accurate e-mail address so we can contact you if you're a winner. By submitting your entry you give Salon Technology permission to publish it. Deadline for entries is June 28, 1999. P R I Z E S The winning response will receive a copy of Salon Technology senior correspondent Andrew Leonard's book, "Bots: The Origin of New Species." In two weeks we'll publish a winner and some selected entries -- then start over a couple weeks after that with a whole new challenge. salon.com | June 19, 1999