Development and evaluation of distance learning courses for professional development of teachers: effects of web-based learning using prior inference tasks

In this study, a new type of web-based learning (WBL) courses for professional development of teachers was developed. We set up "inference tasks" as the core of our WBL courses. These tasks were expected to be effective in reflecting learners\´ various experience on learning process and in keeping learners\´ highly-motivated learning. The developed test courses were generally evaluated as useful by subjects. However, it was also suggested that inference activity was more effective in the case of presenting simple information than that of a complicated one.