Using the theories of critical reflection and community of practice, the aim of this paper was to explore the use of blogs as a reflective platform in the training processes of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) student teachers, who were learning to teach English for future employment in Taiwan. They made use of blogs as a platform to critically…

Higher education institutions deliver web-based learning with varied success. The success rate of distributed online courses remains low. Factors such as ineffective course facilitation and insufficient communication contribute to the unfulfilled promises of web-based learning. Students consequently feel unmotivated. Instructor control and in the…

Provides a tutorial on Internet videoconferencing, offering a general description and then addressing: (1) end-user equipment needed (PC-based systems, standalone systems, auxiliary equipment); (2) server equipment; (3) applications of Internet videoconferencing; (4) the Megaconferences; (5) lasting results of the Megaconferences; and (6) the…

E-mail lists (also known as LISTERVS[TM]) are organized by topic of interest, such as the Foreign Language Teaching Forum or the "Elementary Education List." People with an interest in the topic can subscribe to the list to receive periodic e-mails. Some lists are read-only and similar to newsletters; others give subscribers the option to post to…

The Internet's defining characteristic is its interactivity, and one of the oldest tools for this America Online recently decided to drop Usenet from its services. This, generating howls of protest from some, has led others to question the viability et as a useful tool for individuals and businesses. Created in 1979 by two Duke University graduate…

The beneficial effects of learners interacting in online programmes have been widely reported. Indeed, online discussion is argued to promote student-centred learning. It is therefore reasonable to suggest that the benefits of online discussion should translate into improved student performance. The current study examined the frequency of online…

The Net is all about interactivity, the sharing of information as well as opinions, experiences and fellowship. It is the fruition of one of the core and noblest of American ideals, the free and open marketplace of ideas. This article discusses the communicative benefits and extensive networking opportunities that the Internet today provides. As…

This paper reports on the initial findings from a project which offers a complementary perspective to much of the research on e-learning and student learning in a digital age. Rather than foregrounding technological applications and their associated affordances, its focus is on texts and practices and textual engagements in digital environments.…

This article describes the evolution of the development of a framework for e-learning to reconsider e-learning in relation to the cooperative work framework, identifying critical weaknesses in the fundamental nature of e-learning and its consequent propensity for failure. (Contains 4 figures and 2 notes.)

The following autoethnography reflects a neophyte instructor's obsession with teaching an online graduate course. The experience forces her to move ethnographically forward and backward with students in a novel, and sometimes, more intimate fashion. She struggles to balance a serving of technology with a dollop of human interaction, but finds…

Little research has investigated young people's use of school computers outside lessons, a deficiency that prompted the writing of this paper. The ICT-related behaviour of pupils within the Resource Centre of an English high school is scrutinized, with data collected through observation and online questionnaire. The computers, which were…

Although the Boyer Commission (1998) lamented the lack of research opportunities for all undergraduates at research-extensive universities, it did not provide a feasible solution consistent with the mandate for faculty to maintain sustainable physiology research programs. The costs associated with one-on-one mentoring, and the lack of a sufficient…

This study investigated the role of native language in the context of online versus face-to-face learning environments. Findings from a mixed-methods analysis revealed that native language was a factor in distinguishing among the learning opportunities in these two classes. Data for the online course were 10 archived asynchronous discussions on…

The rapid growth of technology has made online tools available for education. The ability to discern the characteristics of these tools and to use them appropriately for educational purposes has become increasingly critical. Weblogs and discussion forums are among those up-and-coming tools that have great potential in supporting learning. They…

Information and communication technologies hold much promise for use in education in developing countries. This study reports on an evaluation conducted on the introduction of computers in the delivery of the mathematics curriculum in one of the provinces of South Africa. Although the request was for an outcome evaluation very early in the…