Some evidence supports the view that computer-mediated communication can sustain interpersonal links that already exist, but can it create a sense of community in people separated in time, space, context, and culture? Examines characteristics of cyberspace, and chronicles the activities on a listserv for adult education students and faculty in the…

Examines the quality of asynchronous interaction in Web-based conferencing among preservice teachers. The study combines asynchronous conferencing with peer and mentor collaboration to electronically apprentice student learning. Results point out different levels of Web-based discussion: higher-level, progressive, and lower-level discussion. A…

Discussion of the use of course management systems such as WebCT to create online courses focuses on the use of three instructional strategies to enhance learning in a clinical nursing course: multimode instruction with online progressive case studies; interactive online discussion to support dialogue, coaching, collaboration, and communication;…

Explores communication processes that affect the roles of the online distance learning (OLD) instructor. Notes that many communication skills required of the ODL instructor are similar to those needed for effective classroom teaching. Finds that the online instructor's role does require a paradigm shift regarding instructional time and space,…

Examines the hidden issues caused by the format-shifting effect in distance education. Findings of a study of undergraduate students indicated that learning format shifting is a period of dilemma that occurs during the early period for learners during their first distance class. Overlooking the issue would result in problems that could affect…

Reviews some of the current approaches for assessing asynchronous interaction. Describes an approach to assessing the contributions of students to an asynchronous forum (WebBoard) based on social constructivist learning theory. Presents a taxonomy of computer mediated discourse organized by the Simmons levels of assessing reflective thinking. (AEF)

Presents a discourse analysis of contributions to an online interactive discussion forum of a graduate-level education course on discourse in classrooms. Examines content of postings over the course to describe participants' emerging perspectives on the role of classroom and school discourse in shaping student identity, the role of discourse in…

Two university professors discuss the benefits of shared expertise and e-feedback in the design of an English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) writing course. (Author/VWL)

Presents an overview of the security architecture of the IP multimedia core network subsystem (IMS) of the third generation mobile system, known in Europe as UMTS. Discusses IMS security requirements; IMS security architecture; authentication between IMS user and home network; integrity and confidentiality for IMS signalling; and future aspects of…

Describes distance education at the School of Library and Information Science at San Jose State University (California). Highlights include interactive television transmission; interactive video and asynchronous transfer mode; reliability; experiences at other schools; computer-mediated communication and interaction between teachers and students;…

A study involving four adults with disabilities examined effects of presenting motion video stimuli as job choice response options in single and paired-choice formats. All participants expressed preferences using the motion video by differentially responding to the job videos. In the paired presentation, participants were more discriminating in…

Explores some potential problems with the increased use of technology in legal education, including an emphasis on pedagogy as information delivery rather than experiential learning and skill development, and the loss of vital face-to-face interactions. (EV)

Examines the outcomes of a two-year trial of computer-mediated conferencing (CMC) conducted at a British university during the final-year undergraduate course in glacial and periglacial geomorphology. Discusses the issues related to CMC and describes the experience over the last two years of using CMC conferencing. (CMK)

Describes how the Internet was used for online interaction in a 10-week English-as-a-Second-Language course. Students were highly motivated and seeking eventual admittance to undergraduate programs through successful completion of International English language Testing System (IELTS) examinations. (Author/VWL)

Discusses institutional constraints in the foreign language and intercultural learning process within the framework of an online collaboration project between a German and a U.S. university. Shows the benefits and constraints of such a collaboration and provides suggestions for the improvement of similar international computer-supported learning…