Offers eight guidelines for educators who will be using and supporting computer-based instruction and incorporating Internet capability into their classrooms and curricula. (SR)

Analyzes struggles faced by African Americans regarding internet use by discussing how race and class based factors block many African Americans from cyberspace access and participation. Examines how the lives of African Americans on the World Wide Web and in real life are further hampered by violent, white racist internet use and briefly…

Argues for the usefulness of a social network approach for the study of computer-mediated communication. Reviews basic concepts of social network analysis, describes how to collect and analyze social network data, and demonstrates where social network data can be used to study computer-mediated communication. Shows the utility of the social…

Details the development of a collaborative interuniversity virtual classroom, including differences in teacher/learner and learner/learner dynamics, issues related to computer-mediated communication, and advantages of the virtual classroom. Notes that it requires high levels of self-organization, initiative, and ability to develop productive…

Describes how the Internet can be used to support the active construction of knowledge within classroom, and can be used to create authentic literacy experiences for children. Discusses how literacy and learning are being redefined by the social constructivist perspective and constructivism. Notes specific Web sites. (SR)

Argues that the Internet is a valuable information source for teachers. Demonstrates this by presenting an online Internet conversation between three teachers using a teacher "chatroom" to explore an educational issue (how to help students learn to read and appreciate informational text) with other like-minded educators. (SR)

States that the contrast of face-to-face communication with computer-mediated communication (CMC), either experimentally or experientially, may be a valuable way for teaching group dynamics and group decision making in educational settings. Suggests several ways to facilitate the use of CMC in single-session experimental and experiential…

Outlines the basic features of the transformation of the computer into a communication medium. Describes elementary forms of computer-mediated communication in the global network Internet: ways of retrieval and asynchronous/synchronous forms of interactive communication. Presents dynamics of communication in virtual environments, focusing on…

Summarizes the preliminary findings from a recent study of scientists in four disciplines with regard to computer-mediated communication (CMC) use and effects. Findings from surveys of 333 scientists indicate that CMC use is central to both professional and research-related aspects of scientific work, and that this use differs by field. CMC use is…

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) in public libraries can contribute to lifelong learning and social inclusion. Its use in libraries is hindered by concerns about privacy, limited resources, and beliefs that free Internet access is justifiable only for information, not communication. CMC in fiction/reader services, family history, community…

Examines the effects of process structuration by means of a training video on maintenance behavior and outcomes in 55 student virtual decision-making groups. Finds that trained groups had higher levels of social support, greater participation rates, and greater satisfaction with the group; wasted less time and energy; and made significantly more…

Describes a project conducted with Italian lower-secondary school classes using computers and telematics for the study of contemporary history. Discusses the use of computer-mediated communication to improve collaboration between students, teachers, and experts and to foster an alternative way of studying history. (Contains 4 references.)…

Discusses communities of practice and their role in organizational knowledge. Topics include situated learning and situated actions; distributed cognition; discourse analysis, conversation analysis, and genre analysis; performative perspective; interpretive approach; motivation; creating environments for participation in communities of practice;…

Discusses synchronous communication in learning via the World Wide Web and considers arguments for advantages of asynchronous approaches. Describes a synchronous Web-based professional development program for mathematics teachers in North Carolina and discusses the nature of online communication. (LRW)

Discusses issues related to women's use of new communication technologies and, in particular, how women use personal images to connect with one another online. Offers a glossary and notes some listservs. Offers suggestions for further reading. (SR)