This study examined whether and how computer conferencing could be used to help prospective teachers become aware of the consequences of action. Results indicated that conferencing activities provided clear insight into prospective teachers' awareness of the consequences of action. Four levels of consequences were apparent in students'…

This article is a case study of two distance education graduate courses offered by means of computer-mediated communications at The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Topics discussed include adult learning; student interactions; teacher's roles; student achievement; student attitudes; small groups versus learning partners; and…

Describes SOLS TICE, the Satellite On-Line Searching Interactive Conferencing Experiment, conducted at the University of Plymouth (United Kingdom) to meet the training needs of staff in the library and information science (LIS) sector. Continuing professional development is discussed, instructional effectiveness and cost effectiveness are…

Describes the partial conversion of Iceland's three-year teacher certification course into distance education mode. The social context and rationale of the project and the conditions and experience of participants in the initial phase of this pilot project are discussed. Technological and pedagogical concerns and program prospects are mentioned.…

Describes various studies and projects on computer-mediated communication for enhancing second language learning and culture education, examining their impact on participating elementary, secondary, and college students. Results indicate that e-mail and teleconferencing provide authentic communication and foster awareness of languages and…

A study analyzed classroom interaction between language learners in the United States and France using international videoconferencing, focusing on the American learners' Zone of Proximal Development and the differences between learners' capabilities and native speakers' language use. A videotape of the teleconference was found useful in providing…

Discusses various initiatives in Canadian schools and universities that involve new ways of learning with technology. Teachers today can and should use new technologies, such as online services, to transform their teaching methods and create the desire in young people to be lifelong learners. (Author/CDS)

A formative evaluation of computer conferences for 100 preservice teachers over five semesters examined why and how students participated, focusing on grading system, grouping, collaboration, relevance, learner control, and technological preparation. Student conference messages and postcourse surveys from the first and last semesters were examined…

Describes pilot programs in Appalachian high schools designed to improve math and science instruction through systemic change and higher standards. Strategies include using videoconferencing for professional development, incorporating employers' expectations into curricula, bridging gaps between academic and vocational programs, integrating…

Analysis of French used in teleconferences between American and French university students, relative to technical and discursive dimensions and learners' Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), found much of the language used was beyond these learners' capability, due to heightened classroom anxiety and differences in language varieties used by…

This case study explored the effectiveness of telementoring as a vehicle for preservice teachers to hone skills in the teaching of writing, to establish a mentoring relationship with urban high school students, and to help struggling writers improve writing skills necessary for student achievement. Inherent in this research was the goal to develop…

This paper describes various types of distance education technologies and their use in rural Australia. Communications and information technologies may be categorized as distributive or interactive. Correspondence education is a distributive form of distance education, involving the postal service and, at times, educational television or radio.…

Whether two-way visual contact between an instructor and students would promote dialogue during teleconferenced instruction was studied, and the types of verbal dialogues that might be affected by two-way video contact were explored. The following three types of instruction were assessed: (1) Group A, teleconferenced instruction in which students…

The University of Wisconsin-Madison began to offer computer conferencing as a service to the campus for the fall 1995 semester. The university's End User Computing Group developed a set of policies to address such questions as: who is eligible to use the service; the Division of Information Technology's responsibilities; customer responsibilities;…

This paper discusses the use of World Wide Web-based conferencing in the Collaborative Teacher Education Program (CTEP) at Indiana University. The CTEP, a program offering distance education coursework to in-service teachers in rural communities throughout southern Indiana, is described, and some of the obstacles and limitations involved in…