This paper considers four aspects of online communities. Design, mechanisms, architecture, and the constructed knowledge. We hypothesize that different designs of communities drive different mechanisms, which give rise to different architectures, which in turn result in different levels of collaborative knowledge construction. To test this chain…

The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the central photos of 150 students in 50 states participating in Facebook for evidence of alcohol consumption, illegal activities and portrayal of sexually inappropriate behaviors (including nudity or partial nudity). Because the media has frequently reported evidence of these behaviors in…

This paper presents some research findings regarding the changes in the mathematics produced by mathematics teachers in on-line distance courses. Predicated on the belief that knowledge is generated by collectives of humans-with-media, and that different technologies modify the nature of the knowledge generated, we have sought to understand how…

In this article, the author describes how she uses podcasting as an educational tool for her seventh grade students. Using only the applications that come pre-loaded on the Mac iBook, they work together to develop the content, write storyboards, produce and edit the podcasts, and analyze their work. From creating the script to deciding how to…

This paper focuses on a cross-university computer-mediated communication class which was taught during the spring semester at the University of Kansas (the other campus was at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York). The paper's first part briefly introduces the class design including set-up, assignments, and topics covered. The second part…

This paper outlines Japanese children's preconceptions to communication media. In a study, the function of media was divided into two categories--one is an "informational receiving" function and the other is an "informational sending" function. Preconception (consciousness about degree of liking and level of difficulty) of…

Ethical behavior, particularly among young people, is of increasing concern to various segments of society. Before this or any behavior can be influenced, an understanding is needed of the factors that shape it, including social influences, cognitive and emotional factors, and attitudes. The purpose of this study was to examine students' knowledge…

One of the biggest challenges facing distance education programs is attrition. One potential way of reducing attrition is to foster a sense of community among students. Students who are emotionally and intellectuality invested in each other and in their program are more likely to prosper in a multi-year distance program. This paper briefly…

In this paper, five doctoral students at California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), calling themselves the New Technology Group (NTG), describe their research on online communication as a method of inquiry. The focus of the inquiry is to contribute to the formal knowledge base of adult online learning, the impact and possible benefits of…

This paper examines the controversy of e-mail privacy in the workplace. Once an employee uses an e-mail system that belongs to the employer, according to recent case law, their privacy rights are forfeited. Employers will now have to start creating policies to safeguard themselves from expensive litigation, and employees will have to be more…

This paper reports the results of a five-year case study of the use of online tools: Internet, e-mail, and the World Wide Web, within a Graduate School of Education. The conceptual framework was independently developed, but because of the striking parallel with activity theory, activity theory became the overall framework for interpreting…

This paper addresses some of the central questions currently related to 3-Dimensional Inhabited Virtual Worlds (3D-IVWs), their virtual interactions, and communication, drawing from the theory and methodology of sociology, interaction analysis, interpersonal communication, semiotics, cultural studies, and media studies. First, 3D-IVWs--seen as a…

As more courses in higher education move to an on-line format, a major concern that has arisen is the lack of personal interaction between the professor and student. The literature provides evidence that often on-line courses are configured and delivered in a style more often associated with independent study or correspondence work, i.e., students…

In this paper, research about mediated communication is used to shed light on questions that have arisen in relation to behavioral telehealth about the relative merits of different modes of distance communication for the transaction of behavioral telehealth services. The paper is in two parts. The first part contains a presentation of questions…

In spite of the growing interest in interaction design, there remains a large user population that needs special interest: users with special needs. These users can dramatically benefit from software that better responds to their interaction needs, not to mention the fact that designing software that takes into account the special needs of such…