In the past two decades, as new capabilities for video communication have emerged, their use in educational contexts has steadily increased. Initially located in higher education, the use of videoconferencing for a broad range of learning purposes is now established in many schools. Although a considerable body of literature exists that describes…

Synchronous audiographic conferencing (SAC) refers to a combination of technologies for real-time communication and interaction using multiple media and modes. With an increasing institutional uptake of SAC, users require an understanding of the complex interrelations of multiple media in learning scenarios in order to support pedagogic-driven…

Content analysis of computer conferences provides a rich source of data for researching and understanding online learning. However, the complexities of using content analysis in a relatively new research field have resulted in researchers often avoiding this method and using more familiar methods such as survey and interview instead. This article…

Since its publication in "The Internet and Higher Education," Garrison, Anderson, and Archer's [Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. "The Internet and Higher Education," 2(2-3), 87-105.] community of inquiry (CoI) framework has generated…

While researchers have studied the impact of technologies on primary, secondary, and higher education, this study asks, "What are the relationships between types of graduate education and the role of communication technology?" The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the current communication issues for distance education at the…

Current theories of learning have emphasized the value of dialogue for student engagement and achievement (Cazden, 2001; Bruffee, 1992). Research has also shown that the nature of classroom discourse depends greatly on the teacher (Anderson, Rourke, Garrison, & Archer, W., 2001). These issues are relatively well understood in face-to-face…

Group treatment, education, support, and organizational and community participation are now available through telephone and computer technology. A review of professional, popular, and social psychology literature, and a conceptual framework for social work practice is presented. Ways to prepare social workers and guidelines for practice are…

This article briefly reviews initiatives that have attempted to create communities of educators using Web-based, electronic conferencing. The authors critically analyze the advocacy for electronic communication as a medium for bringing educators together across time and distance with an emphasis on what is known about urban schools, access to…

A discussion of the use of Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) in the second language classroom focuses on whether the kinds of CMC available provide appropriate forms of interpersonal interaction to enhance learning. A review of recent research looks at what is known about the ideal conditions for learning a second language, the role of the…

Reviews four studies that capture the present and potential impact of videoconferencing and outlines what needs to be done before videoconferencing is commonly used in education. Discusses instructional effectiveness, cost, factors that affect its success, and videoconferencing compared to other forms of communications. (Author/LRW)

Discusses groupware, a form of computer-mediated communication that supports interaction and cooperative work among group members regardless of location. Highlights include computer-supported cooperative work; electronic mail; computer conferences; group decision support systems; an example of a classroom groupware project with undergraduates; and…

Discusses the effectiveness of computer mediated communication (CMC) in higher education. Highlights include a review of pertinent literature; factors associated with successful CMC resources; activity theory; helping users establish a shared purpose; methodological problems; evaluation methods; a conferencing system; and the patterns and content…

Discussion of the use of computer conferencing in education focuses on a Canadian study of adult distance education students that examined learning strategies when using computer conferencing. Topics addressed include interviews with students and teachers; behavior by students and by instructors; learner control; affective needs; and implications…

This paper describes various types of distance education technologies and their use in rural Australia. Communications and information technologies may be categorized as distributive or interactive. Correspondence education is a distributive form of distance education, involving the postal service and, at times, educational television or radio.…