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…

This manuscript uses interview data collected during a qualitative study in 2007 of a secondary US history e-learning course. The teacher, Mr. Harding, and 11 of the 13 students in the class were interviewed about their general perceptions of e-learning and the ability to effectively learn content online. The findings of the study show that nearly…

Discusses results of analysis of data collected over four semesters of a situated graduate course in Web-based instruction that investigated synchronous versus asynchronous interaction; the importance of technical skills; aids and barriers to the establishment of a learning community; affective dimensions of Web-based instruction; and the…

Describes situated cognition, Vygotskian thought, the Zone of Proximal Development, and learning from the community of practice perspective. Conceptualizes learning principles for instructional design of Web-based electronic learning environments, including situatedness, commonality, interdependency, and infrastructure that includes…

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…

To categorize the various components available for use in Web-based instruction, a hierarchical framework was developed for describing related instructional activities. This framework includes six levels ranging from simple information delivery to immersive collaborative environments and includes the general instructional perspective, Web/Internet…

Considers how to maintain academic integrity when using Web-based instruction in higher education. Highlights include standards for traditional courses; accountability; secure testing; and creating a virtual community, including collaborative learning elements. (LRW)

Provides a background to the development of the Internet; discusses Web sites as foreign-language-learning tools; and describes the Nicenet Internet Classroom Assistant that can be used as a software template for teachers to create their own Internet pages for foreign-language instruction. (Author/LRW)

Discusses how to design and develop an effective Web site to enhance instruction based on a graduate course at California State University at Hayward. Topics include the analysis phase, content organization, site architecture, interface design, testing, and the evaluation process. (LRW)