Current research on applications of computer conferencing in six institutions identifies a number of common problems related to communications and conferencing software and hardware and user attitudes about the medium. Despite these difficulties, there have been indications of a growth in the incorporation of computer conferencing in distance…

Changes in several technologies that handle, manipulate, and transmit information and ways in which these technologies are affecting businesses and homes are discussed in this paper, which also addresses the potential impact of these changes on public education. The first of four sections provides a very brief history of the computer revolution,…

Current approaches to distance education in elementary and secondary schools are summarized in this review of the literature, which was conducted to identify distance education programs at the K-12 level, together with any associated evaluation or research findings, and discover implications of these findings for future developments in this area.…

The programs described in this sourcebook of instructional and learning support activities in Canada that use communications technology in distance learning is based on the findings of a survey of Canadian universities and colleges, provincial departments of education, the telecommunications industry and organizations, professional associations,…

This monograph is the report of an experiment to utilize technology to assist in the addressing of a major national concern: the education of troubled youth. The major concern is whether satellite-assisted, interactive television can be utilized effectively to assist in conferencing, workshops, and other information sharing and problem solving…

The activities described in this report were part of a demonstration project designed to test the feasibility of using electronic messages to support information and resources exchange among professionals who serve the developmentally disabled (DD). The one year demonstration included the participation of 26 university based centers across the…

Intended primarily for use by individuals about to assume responsibility for the implementation of field trials and demonstration projects built around interactive telecommunication systems, this report provides brief descriptions of 20 telemedicine projects, 12 teleconferencing projects, and seven involving two-way applications of cable…

Presented is a case study of several scientific communities which used a computerized conferencing system (Electronic Information Exchange System--EIES) for a period of two years to enhance their communications and carry out cooperative tasks. Though it focuses on one particular system, it was designed to yield some data that make possible direct…

This book contains five articles which examine the areas of administration and instructional design, as well as the technical components of a teleconferencing system; included is an annotated bibliography on telephone education/communications which lists articles on research and theory, administration, technical components, instructional design,…

Describes professional training courses in foster care offered by the University of Montana Department of Social Work using a statewide telephone network and written programed instructional materials. Provides operational details of the teleconferencing program and reports results of a follow-up study with participant foster parents and social…

Reports on the use of teleconferencing to deliver undergraduate courses to geographically remote social work students of the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Describes telecommunications system, courses, teaching methods, and measures of educational effectiveness. (LFL)

Describes 10 educational functions of computer conferencing for undergraduate and graduate students based on the CoSy system at the University of Guelph. Influences on student behavior are examined, the importance of adequate training is stressed, and guidelines for the use of conferencing are given, including use in distance education.…

Describes the use of the English Natural Form Instruction (ENFI) computer conferencing system to teach language skills in college writing classes at Northern Virginia Community College. Highlights include local area networks; discourse processing; interactive writing; the teacher's role; textual analysis of writing by two classes; and other…

A series of articles addresses issues concerning decision support and knowledge based systems. Topics covered include knowledge-based systems for information centers; object oriented systems; strategic information systems case studies; user perception; manipulation of certainty factors by individuals and expert systems; spreadsheet program use;…

A cooperative effort of European universities and five major international corporations will provide professional continuing education to engineers, scientists, and managers in European firms through teleconferencing and international consultation, with the objective of facilitating economic development. (MSE)