We implemented two different approaches of using peer review to support undergraduate essay assignments for students taking large second-year courses in life sciences and biology: a web-based online peer review (OPR) approach and a more traditional face-to-face peer review (FPR) approach that was conducted in tutorial settings. The essays…

This paper reports the results of a controlled field experiment in which voice communication was introduced into an existing online community (online gaming guilds within the popular game "World of Warcraft"), comparing a mix of voice and text with text only. Quantitative results suggest increases in liking and trust due to the addition of voice,…

Describes the organization, operation, and evaluation of an experimental online electronic conference for 450 chemistry educators from 33 countries that was conducted on the Internet. Advantages and disadvantages of online conferencing compared to traditional methods of scholarly discourse are discussed, and future plans are described. (Author/LRW)

Uses the perspectives of sociology and computer science to compare face-to-face (f2f) and computer-mediated communications (CMC) from the viewpoint of their respective abilities to form and sustain communities. Identifies a third type of community--a hybrid--that is based on a combination of f2f and CMC or offline and online communications. (AEF)

This paper attempts to examine different methods of content analysis for student online discussion that takes place on bulletin boards. The purpose of that analysis is to determine whether higher order thinking can be distinguished within transcripts of dialogue. The context of the analysis was a higher education undergraduate course. A group of…

This multi-method study examines the differences in male and female computer use in the home of children ages 9-14. Long interviews, observations, and surveys with children show males spend more time on the computer, but not on-line, than females. Males and females engage in different computer activities. They play computer games about the same…

The case study is one of the most widely used tools in many disciplines including Information Management. At the same time the new Internet revolution has promoted online distance learning courses as never before. Many online courses are also incorporating the benefits of case studies into their course content. Case studies are now available…

This Distance Learning Fiscal and Statistical Report is an annual publication designed to document statistical and financial aspects of the Distance Learning Program at West Valley College (Saratoga, California). In addition to presenting comparative distance learning course statistics for the last 15 years, this report presents a thorough review…

Educators who are responsible for the creation, management, and administration of educational programs are central to the planning process. Research suggests that program planning is not driven by theoretical constructs, but rather by the personal experiences and beliefs of individual planners. This study explores how individuals who plan online…

The development of computer-mediated asynchronous platforms for the delivery of online coursework brings college professors new questions about the features these platforms offer and the degree to which each feature is significant to the achievement of students. Are all features designed in the same way across platforms? Are there some features…

The Web-based standard setting (WBSS) system described in Harvey and Way (1999) provides an online, Internet-based alternative for testing programs that use onsite judgmental standard setting studies to set their cut scores. Standard setting studies using the WBSS system were compared to similar onsite studies of two exams in the College-Level…

Evaluates use of BSCW (a groupware system) shared workspaces in higher education by means of a comparison of seven courses in which this environment was used. Identifies different functions for which the BSCW environment has been used and discusses the relative success of these functions across the cases. (AEF)

This paper reports the findings of a comparative study of the content of electronic exchanges among members of learning communities to determine what kinds of online dialogue differences, if any, exist. The virtual learning communities compared are two cohorts within the same professional preparation program for teachers aspiring to become school…

Addresses present and future capabilities of online journals. Notes differences between paper and online journals including the ease of publication compared to paper, the importance of hypertext links, color graphics, and immediacy of communication with authors. Discusses advantages and disadvantages, three main formats (simple text, scanned…

This qualitative study investigated differences, from the point of view of instructors, between teaching college courses over the Web versus in more traditional face-to-face formats. Twenty-one college instructors who had taught in both formats were interviewed. Four of the interviews were by telephone and 17 by e-mail. Interview fragments were…