Collaborative learning environments provide a set of tools for students acting in groups to interact and accomplish an assigned task. In this kind of systems, students are free to express and communicate with each other, which usually lead to collaboration and communication problems that may require the intervention of a teacher. In this article,…

Successful learning in a discursive interaction demands that participants be able to follow the interaction from its beginning to its end; instruction on Asynchronous Learning Networks (ALNs) poses challenges because, unlike in face-to-face interaction, not all messages are serial. This paper offers strategies and techniques to help ALN teachers…

Describes experiences of United Kingdom's Open University blind students involved in "Computing and the Blind" project. Microcomputer applications described include braille-to-text transcription, word processing, and computer programming. Each application's use of software designed for commercially available microcomputer systems with…

Describes an online college course and student perceptions of the virtual-classroom experience. Students appreciated course flexibility and convenience and found it conducive to thoughtful analysis of class questions and commentary. However, they felt isolated from peers and instructor, and lack of face-to-face interaction hindered communication.…

Online education may help address the challenges of growing student enrollment, overcrowded schools, outdated buildings, teacher shortages, scheduling conflicts, limited educational opportunities (especially advanced-placement classes), and other equity concerns. Snapshots of virtual high schools in Florida, Kentucky, and West Virginia are…