The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an animated pedagogical agent on Spanish vocabulary learning. Furthermore, the study examined learners' reactions and attitudes towards the presence of the pedagogical agent in the web-based environments. A total of 47 university students enrolled in two fourth-semester Spanish classes…

Discussion of distance education and use of the Internet focuses on the development of a prototype distance-learning system at the University of Macau called DESI (Distance Education System for the Internet) that makes use of replicated databases and speech synthesis to overcome some of the limitations of Internet-based systems. (Author/LRW)

Describes a study of eighth graders that examined the contribution of an Internet environment embedded with metacognitive instruction on students' reading comprehension, motivation, and metacognitive awareness. Results show a significant impact on motivation but none on achievement or metacognitive awareness. (Contains 23 references.) (Author/LRW)

Describes the new culture that the Internet imposes on its users with the problems that high school teachers face. Discusses the viewpoints of teachers who engage in traditional learning and examines how they cope with the change process, and considers the young in age versus the young in spirit who do cope. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of the use of the Internet to deliver instruction and multimedia opportunities for Web-page design focuses on working memory and its implications for Web-based instruction. Topics include media overload; cognitive load theory; static visual displays; animations; audio; and research questions. (Author/LRW)

Explores the level of availability of computers, Internet accessibility, and the rate of usage of computers both at home and at the workplace between distance education learners according to gender. Results of questionnaires completed at the Universiti Sains Malaysia indicate that distance education reduces the gender gap. (Author/LRW)

Describes a study that was conducted to describe and analyze how college students reacted to mathematics instruction delivered through the Internet, and their perceptions concerning the potential of the Internet to teach and learn mathematics. Suggestions for further research are included. Contains 53 references. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the use of information technology, particularly the Internet, and the teacher's role. Describes the Macau-Portugal-Internet-Schools (MPIS) program that was developed to promote activities among schools via the Internet that would encourage a cultural exchange between Macau (Portuguese territory down the coast from Hong Kong scheduled to…

Examines the type of innovation-decision (authority-decision versus optional decision) and type of intervention (concern-based versus non-concern-based) on arousing educators' concerns toward the Internet. Results suggest that authority-decision is more effective than optional-decision and concern-based intervention more effective than…

Discusses the use of a personal Web home page and university Internet facilities to support teaching activity at the University Fernando Pessoa (Portugal). Topics include a requirement for students to have laptop computers; local-area networks; changing educational paradigms; the need for user support; and a framework for evaluation. (Author/LRW)

Describes an Internet-based graduate training program at Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. Discusses the steps involved in (1) training the faculty (to prepare faculty for the transition to electronic instruction the school implemented an asynchronous training programme delivered over the internet), and (2) applying…

Describes a training system designed and developed by the Portuguese Welding and Quality Institute of Macau for all aspects of open learning. Highlights include the technical training of teachers, using the Internet; the Asian version; and new challenges resulting from new training technologies such as shared multimedia networks. (Author/LRW)

Considers changes in teaching and learning in an information society and the need to rethink ways of educating teachers. Highlights include research as a skilled practice; models of learning and teaching; the need for quality assessment; globalization of research; communication, cooperation and collaboration; and training research skills with…

Describes a study that compared Israeli university students' satisfaction with three different distance learning methods: one an interactive video system, one an Internet-based system, and one that allowed synchronous communication between teacher and students. Discusses information and communication technology (ICT) and examines student…

Addresses problems with the integration of the Internet into French schools. Topics include network technology; computer-student ratios in elementary, middle, and secondary schools; multimedia characteristics of the Internet; international dimensions; navigation methods; diversity of applications; and the need for teacher education. (LRW)