The University of Southern Queensland is currently moving towards hybrid modes of course delivery across all discipline areas, reconceptualizing many current teaching and learning practices as a consequence. This paper reports on two research projects that highlight the importance of cognitive style, visualisation and multiple representations on future course designs. BACKGROUND The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) teaches and researches as a dualmode university with triple-option teaching styles (students can study on-campus or by ‘traditional ’ distance education or online via the Internet). It offers over 300 accredited awards, consisting of over 1,000 subjects/courses across five Faculties and provides access to educational opportunities to approximately 25,000 students annually. The quality and standing of the University’s teaching and learning activities are widely recognised, having been joint Winner of the Good Universities Guides ʹUniversity of the Year ʹ for 2000-2001 for developing the ʹe-university ʹ where students learn and are supported through the innovative and strategic use of educational web-based technologies. In addition, USQ was judged the best dual mode university in 1999 for its global education initiatives and expertise in providing flexible learning opportunities. Through the years, the University has prospered across the four mainstream generations of distance education development, namely, • the correspondence model (with print), • the multimedia model (print, audiotape, videotape, computer-based learning and interactive video), • the telelearning model (audioconferencing, videoconferencing, audiographic communication, broadcast TV/radio and audioconferencing), • the flexible learning model (interactive multimedia, Internet-based access to WWW resources, and computer-mediated communication). Elements from each of these models are used across all Faculties, where appropriate, in the preparation of teaching materials.

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is currently moving towards hybrid modes of course delivery across all discipline areas, reconceptualising many current teaching and learning practices as a consequence. Central to this new delivery is a resource-rich CD containing all the essential study materials, support materials and significant multimedia enhancements. In moving towards this delivery mode, the need to establish a range of pedagogically sound principles for developing these materials is regarded as paramount. In establishing these principles this paper contextualises important issues associated with hybrid delivery at USQ and considers how catering for a multiliterate clientele, by using a combination of multimedia elements and online support may enhance the learning opportunities for students. To support these claims this paper reports on a current research project investigating this new configuration of course materials and demonstrates the viability of hybrid delivery.

Abstract. Process calculi are mathematical tools used for modeling and analyzing the structure and behavior of reactive systems. One such calculus, called APi-calculus (an extension to Pi-calculus), provides support for modeling migration, intelligence, natural grouping and security in agent-based systems [18]. In this article, a visualization tool for the APi-calculus is proposed. Although an invaluable formal method for mobile agent systems, APi-calculus (as other calculi) is quite complex and not well suited to practical applications by itself. Due to the dynamic nature of mobile agents, a graphical program based on the mathematics of the calculus would enhance the use of the calculus and its attraction to the mobile agents industry. The ability to provide instant demonstration of a designed system to the user and the support for verification and validation of such systems specified by the calculus would prove to be a great asset for APi-calculus as well as the mobile agentsbased computing in general. This paper presents ACVisualizer, a visualization software for APi-calculus, which provides such high level support for modeling mobile agent systems. Due to the backward compatibility of APicalculus with Pi-calculus, ACVisualizer can easily be adapted to work with Pi-calculus itself.