Describes the MathOnline system at the University of Colorado (Colorado Springs), a learning delivery method that, in addition to blending synchronous and asynchronous learning, combines traditional mathematics instruction with distance learning. Student surveys indicate the system greatly enhances traditional learners' educational experiences…

Presents seven strategies to assist educators in providing students with a high quality online communication experience: begin with curriculum; spend time planning; encourage a positive social climate; understand the unique nature of online communication; encourage good reading and writing skills; deal with inappropriate behavior and attitudes;…

Discusses several online and offline community-building strategies that may be used to foster a positive social dynamic in online courses. Introduces a "communal scaffolding" model which lets instructors conceptualize how affective and cognitive learning are intertwined in online learning. A "communal architect" is someone who erects a communal…

Proposes a theoretical framework for designing online-situated assessment tools for multimedia instructional systems. Uses a graphic method based on ecological psychology to monitor student performance through a learning activity. Explores the method's feasibility in case studies describing instructional systems teaching critical-thinking and…

Refereeing has been one means of ensuring the quality of publications in conventional scholarly publishing. However, conventional refereeing, with its reliance on traditional mail communication cannot meet the needs of electronic journal publishing. Examines the traditional refereeing system, describes a World Wide Web-based electronic form of…

This article addresses the need for a conceptual approach to researching, e-learning instructional design and the technologies employed as a basis for e-learning. A programmatic research construct is offered for building a conceptual model. Three categories of variables are considered in building the construct: outcome, in situ, and independent…

This study proposes a hierarchical hyper concept map (HHCM) course system which consists of a navigation map, concept maps, and hypermedia documents. Results of testing the HHCM as a course representation showed achievement was greater for students learning from the course represented by HHCM compared with those learning from a linearly…

Reviews the literature on the interactivity concept from the perspectives of communication, computer-assisted instruction, distance education, and interactive dimensions and functions for Web systems. Proposes a technical framework for including such dimensions and functions in Web-based learning systems. Discusses evaluation feedback. Interaction…

Use of the Internet in distance education has increased at a tremendous pace. This study reports on a policy analysis that examined the development process of public virtual universities. First, public virtual universities in the United States were classified using Wolf and Johnstone's (1999) taxonomy, then, using a content analysis approach,…

Addresses issues related to the implementation of information and communications technology (ICT) in education and online learning with particular reference to Japan. Presents an integrated model for the introduction of ICT at all levels of education that suggests ways of bridging the gap between research and development and actual educational…

Presents a mechanism, the Secure e-Course eXchange (eCX) designed to protect learning material from unauthorized dissemination, and shows how this mechanism can be integrated in the operation model of online learning course providers. The design of eCX is flexible to fit two operating models, the Institutional Server Model and the Corporate Server…

Describes a program instituted by a consortium of San Diego County (California) community colleges that provided distance learners with access to library reference services. States that the program included telephone, e-mail, and real time chat service and used an off-site, contract librarian. Reports on variable results. (Contains 8 references.)…

Presents an analytical approach to the interpretation of weighted Boolean queries. By distinguishing query term weights from query weights, a query becomes a means of describing classes of ideal documents and expressing relativity criteria among these descriptions. A formalization of query term weights is given in a fuzzy set theoretical context.…

Describes a survey of academic libraries that examined whether the availability of abstracting and indexing services online has resulted in the cancellation of equivalent print subscriptions. The results indicate that subscriptions are being cancelled at a significant rate because of cost and lack of use rather than the availability of online…

Reviews factors that should affect the decision to automate a school media center and offers suggestions for the automation process. Topics discussed include getting the library collection ready for automation, deciding what automated functions are needed, evaluating software vendors, selecting software, and budgeting. (CLB)