Many tertiary institutions have embraced digital learning through the use of online learning platforms and social networks. However, the research about the efficacy of such platforms is confused, as is the field itself, in part because of the rapidly evolving technology, and also because of a lack of clarity about what constitutes a learning…

Annotation of video provides students with the opportunity to view and engage with audiovisual content in an interactive and participatory way rather than in passive-receptive mode. This article discusses research into the use of video annotation in four vocational programs at RMIT University in Melbourne, which allowed students to interact with…

The current orthodoxy regarding computer use in schools appears to be that one-to-one (1:1) computing, wherein each child owns or has sole access to a computing device, is the most efficacious way to achieve a range of desirable educational outcomes, including individualised learning, collaborative environments, or constructivist pedagogies. This…

The Australian Government's widening participation agenda--also referred to as the social inclusion agenda--considers equity through the triple focus of access, participation and outcomes. These foci are catalysts for re-examining teaching and learning approaches in formal education. This article considers this national refocus and the…

Podcasting is used commonly recreationally and is now increasingly used in education. The technology for podcasting is readily available, easy to use and inexpensive, making it an attractive option for providing additional flexible learning resources for students. However, little is known about how podcasts are used by students and the…

The authors describe a collaborative study at two universities, one in Australia and the other in the UK. The main objectives of the study were to gain an understanding of the factors that influence a student's choice of location when using computing facilities, what applications they use, and how adequate various services and facilities provided…

A relational database management system, Query-by-Example, was installed on an IBM 4331 system and tested in 10 schools in the Angle Park School district over a 1-year period to determine whether this system would provide the schools with the means for effectively processing the information essential for running the individual schools and…

Electronic Classroom is an Australian-developed software product that provides a shared screen facility between two to six Apple Macintosh computers using standard telephone lines and modems. It provides an icon-based "paint" interface with point and click switching of control between sites. Used in conjunction with an additional voice…

A study of academic staff at the University of Canberra (Australia) in 1995 determined use of electronic mail, Telnet, file transfer protocol (FTP) software, World Wide Web, library and document delivery services, discussion groups, and student communication. Examined demographic characteristics of faculty (discipline, employment status, gender,…