Considers the role of interaction in computer-mediated distance education and questions whether there are adequate opportunities for social interaction. Highlights include a review of research studies on interactivity; student ideas; potential research studies; and a post-discussion summary from the International Forum of Educational Technology…

Reports on a study of 14 master's degree students' online communication patterns when their classroom environment had been expanded electronically through a public listserv for classroom interaction and private e-mail on the Internet. Student attitudes and reactions are described, based on results of questionnaires. (Author/LRW)

This paper explores the ways in which the perception of a real-time classroom exchange serves as the conduit to a grander socially constructed conflict through the mediation of an asynchronous online listserve. The sample of 25 listserve messages was selected from a class of 191 undergraduate students in the lecture section of an introductory…

Offering participation in courses via modem can benefit both colleges, which are often coping with downsizing or insufficient classroom space, and students, who may face prohibitive work schedules, a need to remain at home, physical handicaps, or incarceration. This study assembles demographic information on higher education students who…

The purpose of this study was to examine how graduate students participated in Web-based course discussions by analyzing the interactions that occurred between synchronous (chat) and asynchronous (listserv) modes of discussions using a coding scheme developed by the researchers. The study examined whether participation was substantive (directly…

As interest in distance education increases, many university instructors are experimenting with listserv discussion within their courses. Six educational technology professors at four universities initiated a listserv discussion group within their various classes for 52 graduate students. Discussion topics were four general themes within…

This paper reports on a comparative study of the use of asynchronous (bulletin board) and synchronous (chat) discussion on three learning units based on the cognitive maps developed by the learners. Cognitive maps have been found to be an effective tool for learners for discussion in a distributed learning environment. Cognitive maps provided…

This paper presents a case study focusing on community among students in a distance learning program, the Syracuse University (New York) Master of Library Science-Independent Study Degree Program (MLS-ISDP). During July 1998, the researcher conducted interviews with Syracuse University faculty and staff involved in developing and administering the…

This study examined the efficacy of a class discussion conducted by listserv which was used instead of classroom meetings for a graduate seminar. Research focused on whether this mode of communication was successful for the purpose of the course, and how this mode of communication could be improved as a means for replacing or supplementing…