The Technology Proficiency Self Assessment (TPSA) has been used since 1997 in its original form with only a few minor modifications (changing Alta Vista as a search engine example to Google). The survey instrument has retained its reliability even in the evolving arena of educational technology. The survey has been translated to multiple languages…

Integrating computer-based communication into the delivery of a course is not a simple task, but it need not be a daunting one. With conscientious planning, coordination with institutional resources, preparation of training materials, and flexible responses to student learning, an instructor can readily succeed. Concerns and problems encountered…

This paper investigates a number of questions concerning the relative advantages of the U.S. Mail versus electronic mail. Specifically, the paper asks: (1) what is the impact that E-mail has on the ways in which people communicate interpersonally in a visual presentation; (2) will E-mail replace such traditional forms of communication as greeting…

An instructor's idea of using required e-mail as a communication link with students in the basic public speaking course sprang from his work with Gerald M. Philips in the pioneering reticence program he developed at Penn State University in the 1970s and 1980s. The instructor's focus in teaching a basic communication course has always been more on…

Responding to the dramatic changes in the style and form of communication, a communication instructor integrated the Internet into his communication courses at a liberal arts college. Students are required to sign up for a discussion group (listserv) that focuses on the course offering as well as a discussion group in their area of interest. Every…

Nearly 90% of all University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC) students and staff are regular users of e-mail. The University has taken advantage of this widespread use and replaced many paper distributions--payroll earnings statements, unofficial transcripts, degree audits, adviser grade reports, bills, et cetera--with distribution via e-mail.…

This paper explores various pedagogical perspectives regarding the use of electronic mail in the classroom as a supplemental and alternative teaching and learning strategy. The paper suggests keeping an electronic journal as a form of writing to clarify and reinforce concepts discussed in class. A brief summary of strategies and assignments are…

Connectivity on the Internet through the use of World Wide Web browsers is becoming commonplace in the classroom, at home, and in the office. The term, "power pedagogy" refers to any set of instructional methods designed to increase faculty productivity and to accommodate more students with existing facilities. This paper examines the…

Individualized instruction and the associated accountability mean more documentation for teachers. How can teacher productivity be increased to handle the heavier workload? The solution for the Jacqueline Vaughn Occupational High School, a special education school in Chicago, was a networked local school computer linked to each teacher's personal…

A New York State Cornell Cooperative Extension project for children, youth, and families is implementing electronic connectivity or Internet access to support the development of computer literacy among staff and program participants and to promote positive program outcomes in communities at risk. Reducing Risks and Increasing Capacity (RRIC) is a…

This study examined the consequences of establishing e-mail communication between two classes in different schools: a fifth grade of children with hearing difficulties and a fourth grade of children without hearing difficulties. The arrangement provided an opportunity for children to interact with peers whom they would not normally meet at school.…

Technology can be incorporated as a tool in business communication courses to help students format, revise, and enhance pieces of writing. The capabilities of the microcomputer should be introduced slowly to build competencies and confidence. This paper provides instructional tips and activities for introducing technology into assignments. Steps…

This paper reports on a study which examined critical mass for the use of information technologies (i.e., electronic mail and World Wide Web applications) in schools, colleges, and departments of education (SCDEs) by faculty, students, and faculty and students combined. The study also investigated critical mass for the existence of adequate…

Belen Public Schools (New Mexico) received a Goals 2000 grant for teacher education and technology integration. The Belen Goals 2000 professional development project established two three-day teachers-teaching-teachers workshops. The first focused on using an integrated software package and the second focused on using e-mail and the Internet.…

A course entitled "Communicating through Multimedia" was designed as a capstone experience for upperclassmen. It was a team-taught interdisciplinary course in the application of multimedia technology. Students in the course came from three disciplines--speech communication, mass communication, and management information systems. The…