Many daily and some weekly newspapers have developed online services that colleges and universities may use to their advantage for disseminating campus news. To use these public relations opportunities, campus information personnel must become comfortable with the technology, investigate commercial online vendors, forge relationships with the…

Describes the implementation of electronic bulletin board systems (BBSs) at the Garfield High School Computer Science Magnet Center (Los Angeles) and the Educational Technology Program at California State University. Reviews advantages and disadvantages of BBSs and recommends that high schools and teacher education programs consider setting up…

Discussion of distance learning focuses on working with college faculty. Topics include defining telecommunicated distance learning; the teacher's role; elements of successful distance learning programs; and Western Illinois University's successful experience with distance learning, including support personnel, faculty development, administrative…

Four commercial World Wide Web browsers are evaluated for features such as handling of WWW protocols and different URLs: FTP, Telnet, Gopher and WAIS, and e-mail and news; bookmark capabilities; navigation features; file management; and security support. (JKP)

Discusses the future of libraries in rural areas, the role of the community, and possible effects of changing technology in telecommunications. Topics include a historical background, including the Rural Electrification Administration; networking technology; an example of a Rural Area Network in Colorado; and new roles for libraries and…

Increasingly, colleges and universities are planning to improve Internet connections to those who tap into campus computer networks over telephone lines. There is concern that users will overwhelm existing computer systems. Currently, many off-campus users are using private information service providers to gain network access. (MSE)

Surveys current work in Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) and describes how technology can be extended to exploit communication between computers. Reviews applications that might make use of network support (distributed CSCL) and evaluates a sample prototype distributed CSCL application. Highlights value, viability, and development…

Ongoing contact and peer support are essential to professional growth for educators, and an electronic community can provide a supportive environment. The LabNet project demonstrates that a successful electronic community requires careful design, comfort with technology among users, and commitment; moderators play essential leadership roles in…

Careful planning is required for teachers to take full advantage of the cross-cultural learning opportunities afforded by electronic networks and telecommunications. Networking with more than one classroom and using a well-defined group project integral to other classroom activities are recommended. (EA)

Discussion of the evolution of a postindustrial, knowledge-based society addresses the importance of intellectual power and information technology as strategic resources, communications technology, development of the National Research and Education Network (NREN), the need for creative software applications, implications of advanced information…

Discusses the possible futures of telecommunications and interactive television and describes the Internet and services now available through it. Topics addressed include access to the Internet; resources available; access costs; user-friendly graphical interfaces; the digital video channel, used for videoconferencing and experimental projects;…

Examines the relationship between a society's communication technology and Marshall McLuhan's concerns for human cognition, and between the technology and the ways that humans organize their societies. It is suggested that appropriate development of global electronic networks could have a positive effect on individual and organizational abilities…

Describes dialogue exchanges arising from an Eastern Michigan University telecommunications project in which teachers enrolled in a university graduate course and fifth graders dialogued about literature. Outlines the benefits of electronic dialogues to both teachers and students. (MG)

Describes the use and applications of the communications program Telenet for remote log-in, a basic interactive resource sharing service that enables users to connect to any machine on the Internet and conduct a session. The Virtual Terminal--the central component of Telenet--is also described, as well as problems with terminals, services…

Describes the Canadian Database Promotion Initiative (CDPI), which was created to develop projects that link telecommunications with information technologies for a variety of business and educational organizations. Topics discussed include computer-mediated communications; networks for businesses, research organizations, and universities; and the…