Online collaborative documents can be used effectively for conducting collaborative research and for learning collaboratively via the Internet. Collaborative documents are dedicated online workspaces that allow individuals or groups to use the Internet to share their work with others, edit it, and finalize it. This paper identifies Basic Support…

Research shows that learning in groups improves students' achievement of learning objectives. Some indicate that a facilitator will smooth the process of collaboration (Johnson et al, 1987; Hooper, 1992; Moore and Kearsley, 1996; Brandon & Hollingshead, 1999; Bernard et al, 2000). Advocates for peer-controlled collaboration claim that learners…

The paper reports action research on Web-based courses conducted from 1999 to 2001. The expression "hybrid courses" is used in this paper to refer to the courses in which an instructor and students meet half or less than half of the regular scheduled meeting time, and such courses are the courses involved in this research. Participants of the…

In 1998, the Department of Education implemented "principles of effectiveness" requiring that all Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities (SDFSCP)-funded programs be research-based. To help schools identify and adopt research-based drug and violence prevention strategies, the 1999 Safe and Drug-Free School appropriation of $566 million included…

In the online learning environment, communication and collaboration occur from a distance. In the absence of non-verbal communication cues (such as facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice), understanding, communication, and interaction rest largely on individual assumptions and interpretations. The magnitude of these communication…

This paper describes a constructivist and collaborative approach to transforming a traditional face-to-face on-campus course into an entirely Web-based course. The major objectives of this computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) course are for students to experience, learn and design online collaborative learning. This paper is based on…

Over the next decade, distance learning will provide counselor preparation programs with a host of both opportunities and challenges. This user-friendly handbook helps counselor educators develop skills to teach students who are participating in distance learning classes. The purpose of this book is to help counselor educators and other faculty…

The critical career development strategy of networking is being transformed by the Internet into virtual or e-networking. Virtual networking provides these advantages: it eliminates the fear of making initial contact and the stress of first impressions; it overcomes restrictions of location, time, or money; it makes responses faster and easier;…

This paper presents some preliminary findings from a study with the two aims of examining gender differences in online participation and methods for obtaining better online debate. A number of research methods were used. The study involved a WebCT conference for a total population of 123 second-year undergraduate students at the University of…

The traditional form of collaborative learning has been via face-to-face groups working together. The online forum can provide a different collaborative learning environment, due to its student-centric, asynchronous, written form. As a result of an investigation into the differences between face-to-face and online asynchronous communication,…

Sensitivity to someone's gender is crucial, not only in life, but also in learning. In developing countries where the opportunities for face-to-face education are often limited, open and distance learning (ODL) can provide basic education, skills training and lifelong learning. Appropriate ODL materials are especially important for women who live…

Examining the group processes of seven virtual learning teams and the distribution of observed behaviors from each team found two emerged group development patterns, Linear Progression and Adaptive Progression. Linear progression teams followed the linear sequence of orientation, scheduling, exploration, work and decision, progress check and…

This paper explains the similarities and differences between electronic mail and computer conferencing, and identifies the features one should look for in a modern conferencing system. It also clarifies some related terminology. Advantages of computer conferencing are first outlined, including: time- and space- independence; text-based medium;…

In the workplace of today which is increasingly being overloaded with information, the concept of intelligent information agents has been widely prescribed. This paper briefly looks at the United Kingdom Government's Information Society Initiative which has been fueled by the realization that information is the key component of the ongoing…

The Urban University and Neighborhood Network, a group dedicated to bringing together Ohio's urban universities and neighborhood-based organizations (NBOs), has been studying NBO access to the Internet. Of 189 Ohio NBOs responding to a survey, only 3 have full access to the Internet. The small size and small budget of many of the state's NBOs…