Discusses advantages and disadvantages of audioconferencing for professional development; recommends basing technology choice on curriculum and provides a checklist of criteria. Describes an audio workshop on learning disabilities, outlining principles of good practice, guidelines for site coordinators, and participant handouts. (SK)

Describes a study that investigated a possible gender-related communications difference, the use of linguistic qualifiers and intensifiers, in the online computer conference transcript in a graduate course. Explains the use of sentences as the units of analysis and the use of a new tool for coding, the Transcript Analysis Tool. (Author/LRW)

Discusses reflective practice and suggests that participants in computer-mediated conferencing can be encouraged to engage in reflecting about onscreen experiences with the help of a trained moderator. Provides examples from Open University (United Kingdom) classes and concludes that reflective practice helps participants to learn online and…

Computer-mediated communications attempt to overcome the isolation of distance education students and tutors. Technical and administrative barriers still must be overcome to reap the benefits of an "electronic classroom." (SK)

Describes the information available about special interest groups (SIGs) on the CompuServe system and offers suggestions for searching this online utility. Search strategies and system commands are described for getting a list of every SIG in the system, accessing message boards, teleconferencing, searching data libraries, and locating specific…

Describes study of undergraduates that investigated social influence in the group process by examining how the exclusion of contextual cues provided by face to face interaction influences individual judgments in computer mediated conferencing (CMC). Asch's social influence experiment is reviewed, and further research needs are suggested. (23…

Describes a longitudinal study of positive first-order efficiency effects of video teleconferencing technology. Finds in which ways video teleconferencing is equal or superior to face-to-face meetings, and in which ways it is less effective. Points out that in video teleconferencing, it is more common to have a more negative impression of the…

Presents the first half of a selected glossary of terms commonly used in discussions relating to the Internet and the National Research and Education Network (NREN). Highlights include various network names; organizations; acronyms; network research testbeds; computer conferences; file transfer protocol; Gopher; knowbot; and limited systems…

Discusses the distance learning process that occurs when computer-mediated communication is used and presents a conceptual framework based on the theoretical principles developed by Gavriel Salomon. Characteristics of the technology are identified, including active user participation, activation of cognitive skills related to information…

Describes the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), a digital telecommunications system. Applications of ISDN in the classroom are examined, including information systems such as computers and fax machines; video conferencing; desktop computer conferencing; and voice messaging and caller identification. Cost estimates are also included.…

Assesses the related effects of anticipated future interaction and different communication media (computer-mediated versus face-to-face communication) on the communication of relational intimacy and composure. Shows that the assignment of long-term versus short-term partnerships has a larger impact on anticipated future interaction reported by…

An interactive videoconference on breast cancer was presented to 277 health care professionals in hospitals. Usable pre/posttest data from 69 indicated a 21% increase in knowledge. Recommendations for videoconferencing include identifying objectives and writing test questions simultaneously and maximizing visual opportunities. (SK)

The University of Wyoming uses two-way audio teleconferencing to deliver instruction to distant learners. The design of telecourses follows five stages: faculty recruitment, precourse discussions with the course coordinator, faculty workshop, small-group instructional diagnosis for midcourse feedback, and final course evaluation. (SK)

Explores effects of electronically decentralizing writing centers. Suggests that asynchronous conferencing promises to simplify scheduling but complicate supervision, while its potential effects on workplace ethos are more difficult to predict. Explores the potential for information technology to preserve conference talk. Concludes that a writing…

Iowa nurses in long-term and home-health-care settings (n=53) were interested in continuing-education programs and teleconferences on the following Alzheimer's disease topics: challenging behaviors, family needs, case management, long-term care services, and new developments. Teleconferences were a viable strategy for isolated rural nurses. (SK)