PMABS is a consortium of seven North Carolina historically minority universities and UNC Chapel Hill whose goal is to increase diversity in the sciences by enhancing science education. PMABS has constructed a distributed learning network (DLN), consisting of networked SMARTBoards and videoteleconference (VTC) technology, to connect the eight institutions, allowing us to offer courses otherwise unavailable to our students. Several mechanistic models for DLN course delivery are emerging. Strengths and limitations of each will be discussed, citing past and current PMABS DLN courses as examples. One challenge we have encountered consistently is how to effectively engage “remote” students. A current initiative examines the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) for real time in-class assessment and evaluation in VTC courses, with the hypothesis being increased engagement of “remote” students and, consequently, enhanced learning. Student and instructor impressions will be shared, and future directions of this initiative will be presented and discussed.