Describes support delivered by Harvard University's Beginning Teacher Computer Network which helps beginning teachers in disparate geographic locations. Data from mail surveys, computer message counts, and follow-up interviews indicate the network was most effective in providing moral support and least effective in providing technical support of…

A new generation of home-use electronic information systems could help transform American schooling. These services reach beyond computer enthusiasts, using various combinations of mass marketing techniques, attractive graphics, easy-to-use controls, localized information, low-cost access, and dedicated terminals. Representative samples include…

Describes survey of graduate students that was conducted to develop a profile of users of computer mediated communications (CMC). Current literature on CMC is reviewed, and results of the survey are focused on three areas: (1) professional purpose and value perception; (2) social purpose and perception; and (3) personal purpose and perception. (22…

Provides the meditations of one teacher and the failures and successes experienced by her in trying to use electronic mail to establish contact with English teachers in Eastern Europe. Recounts the teacher's struggle, through journal excerpts, to become savvy about computer communications technology and how to exploit it. (HB)

Describes how one sixth-grade language arts class joined a computer network where students could exchange writing about topics they selected for themselves. Shows how students' excitement grew and how their writing skills improved naturally. (SR)

Describes the institutional status of writing centers. Considers possible conflicts between the goals and loyalties of the writing center and those of the larger institution. Discusses budget, staffing, mission, methodology, space, and other issues regarding writing centers in the form of an extended electronic mail conversation. (HB)

Explores the differences between e-mail and paper mail, focusing on audience, interface, and rhythm of response. Argues that technological change triggers other changes in a system, creating discomfort, and that this discomfort should not prevent English and writing teachers from studying and accepting e-mail as a legitimate site for writing. (RS)

Discusses electronic mail use in elementary/secondary education focusing on a comparison/review of award-winning Internet-based Virtual Reference Desk Exemplary Services (Ask Dr. Math, Ask A Volcanologist, How Things Work, AskERIC, Mad Scientist, Shamu, and American Art) that provide ask-an-expert question and answer services. Home pages, delivery…

Suggests loaning older computers, including Macintoshes, to student teachers so they would have e-mail available for feedback from college supervisors. Other possible computer uses include dialogs with other student teachers via the Internet, and dialogs between student teachers, cooperating teacher, and college supervisor. (LRW)

Examines the use of shared semantics information to link concepts in an organizational memory to e-mail communications. Presents a framework for determining shared semantics based on organizational and personal user profiles. Illustrates how shared semantics are used by the HyperMail system to help link organizational memories (OM) content to…

Describes an assignment in a large lecture course ("Social Scientific Foundations of Communication") that paired each student with an "e-mail pal" who was a working professional in the field of journalism. Describes the procedure and the results, noting recurrent ideas emphasized by professionals, practical advice they offered,…

Presents the results of a study on using the electronic bulletin board system (BBS) as computer-mediated communication to promote reflective thinking among student teachers in a teaching practicum course at National Taiwan Normal University. Reports student feedback that showed interactions with peers was a positive influence. (Author/LRW)

Describes the development, utilization and evaluation of an Internet training module for doctor of pharmacy students to introduce the use of e-mail and on-line searching for primary literature and patient information. Both traditional and nontraditional students agreed that the module was user-friendly and taught them to search primary literature…

Examined how traditional-age, residential, first-year students (n=23) use e-mail and found that, although students used e-mail extensively, only a limited amount of their correspondence enhanced academic or social integration. Classification of messages (n=4,603) indicated that 10.2 percent of e-mail messages went to professors or classmates,…

E-mail provides a medium for maintaining dialogs between university colleagues that is rapid yet allows reflection, that is spontaneous yet provides a permanent and accurate record. This article describes e-mail communications between "reflective colleagues" in Australia and Oregon during a 10-week course and discusses the benefits to…