The purpose of the present study was to examine the nature of the discourse generated by two different online approaches to mathematics teacher professional development. Thirty mathematics teachers participated in online activities involving analysis and discourse about artifacts of teaching practice. Half were randomly assigned to a group that…

This mixed-methods study probed the effectiveness of three kinds of objects (video, theory, metaphor) as common reference points for conversations between online learners (student teachers). Individuals' degree of detail-focus was examined as a potentially interacting covariate and the outcome measure was learners' level of tacit knowledge related…

Drawing on research literature on online discussion and on reading and learning from the text, we argue that research on learning from text has much to offer but has been largely absent in informing the design and study of online learning environments. We propose several key issues to be considered in research and development of online discussion,…

In this paper, we present the comprehensive version of CSIEC (Computer Simulation in Educational Communication), an interactive web-based human-computer dialogue system with natural language for English instruction, and its tentative application and evaluation in English education. First, we briefly introduce the motivation for this project,…

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine student use of a prototype networked collaborative design environment to support or augment learning about engineering design. The theoretical framework is based primarily on Vygotsky's social construction of knowledge and the belief that collaboration and communication are critical components…

A study analyzed the choreography of turn-taking and cohesion in classroom computer-mediated communication (CMC) to assess its efficacy as a linguistic intervention. Of the kinds of discussions made possible by CMC, it is the pseudonymous, synchronous conversation that most attracts those who would aspire to the project of changing linguistic…

A new paradigm for computer-supported cooperative work and a research agenda for developing and testing this paradigm are proposed. The book outlines a comprehensive model of collaboration that integrates the cognitive/conceptual and social dynamics of groups. The challenge faced by all groups engaged in intellectual work is to divide the task so…

While researchers have studied the impact of technologies on primary, secondary, and higher education, this study asks, "What are the relationships between types of graduate education and the role of communication technology?" The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the current communication issues for distance education at the…

During the past year the popularity of the World Wide Web has eclipsed that of gopher technology. As a way to keep up with the ever changing communications media of the Internet, the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) established a Web server as a means of disseminating information to its membership. This paper describes how the…

As technological changes in the delivery of instruction overtake colleges, thought needs to be given to maintaining the fundamental principles of adult education, especially regarding the role of the learner in the educational process. The trend toward electronically distributed education will make college a network of resources, rather than a…

This report summarizes the history of AskLN (Ask the Learning Network), a project funded by AT&T. It outlines valuable insights and information gained as a result of a successful 22 month run under the coordination of the Information Institute of Syracuse at Syracuse University (New York). In the spring of 1996, the Director of the AT&T…

Research on teachers' professional development is gaining popularity among educators since changes in society require teachers to improve their skills and knowledge. Rather than transmitting information to teachers, knowledge sharing through emerging tacit knowledge among them has gained more importance. Because of new information and…

Although technology provides numerous benefits to young people, it also has a "dark side", as it can be used for harm, not only by some adults but also by the young people themselves. E-mail, texting, chat rooms, mobile phones, mobile phone cameras and web sites can and are being used by young people to bully peers. It is now a global…

While a few educators have already started using blogs in the classroom, more have focused on the potential of blogging in teaching and learning (Shachtman 2002; Embrey 2002). For instance, some claim that blogs may further democratize the Internet, addressing some of the concerns under-girding the digital divide (Carroll 2003). This article…

The Internet was not invented for education at beginning (Pett Grabinger, 1995), but it has influenced educational systems considerably, especially by providing another way for distance learning. This powerful communication function is superior to any other educational media. Students can conduct their own self-directed learning without…