Designed to provide an overview for educators, this report summarizes experiences to date with applications of communications and computer technology to distance education. Findings relevant to educators concerned with grades K-12 in the six-state region of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas are emphasized. A brief overview of potential distance education technologies covers (1) audio technologies such as audio teleconferencing, audio graphics, freeze-frame video, radio broadcasting, and audio cassettes; (2) computer communications including electronic mail, computer conferencing, and computer-assisted instruction; (3) teletext and videotex; (4) interactive videotape and videodisc; (5) television including Instructional Television Fixed Service and cable systems; and (6) communication satellites. Important factors in evaluating distance learning projects are examined, including student performance; performance of hardware and software; capital, start-up, and operating costs; level of complexity of software development; attitudes of teachers, learners, and project staff; and relationship of project goals to institutional goals. A review of significant projects drawn from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and developing countries includes examples of applications using each of the technologies reviewed. An analysis of key findings follows each group of project summaries. Final observations are drawn from the project review and distance learning research, and a four-page bibliography is provided. (LMM)