Analysis of over 450 contributions to electronic discussions by 52 adult learners showed the learning processes used were engaging, developing conceptual relationships, drawing conclusions, and reflecting. Learning progressed to a high analytical level and was facilitated by group process development. Faculty supported discussion by synthesizing…

Investigates the comfort and use of technology among college students. Also investigates the use of communication technologies such as e-mail and the Internet for academic and nonacademic purposes. Findings suggest that the majority of the participants were comfortable with technology and used e-mail and the Internet for academic and social…

Suggests the Internet has introduced the play element into student and corporate work culture. Examines a series of InterChange transcripts to demonstrate how discourse that combines serious and playful purposes works to provoke and mediate conflict. Concludes that students use serio-ludic discourse to critique and to negotiate power relations and…

Examines computer conferencing systems for distance education from a design perspective. Outlines structured and unstructured communication, organization and management of communication structures, and functions for users and managers of conferencing environments. Contrasts Web- and non Web-conferencing. Suggests how to choose a…

Discusses the third generation (G3) model of online education named synchronous online education. Reviews terminology, hardware, different stages of G3, software, and implications of G3 for the future. Contains 15 references. (VWC)

Five master's of business administration courses used various formats, including part traditional/part asynchronous activity and totally asynchronous. A survey of 88 of 108 students showed that flexibility of the medium and an interactive course environment influenced satisfaction more than ease or frequency of access. (SK)

Shows how a classic experiential exercise in management education was modified to allow participants to use networked computers as well as face-to-face interaction. Suggests ways facilitators can examine their own assumptions about computer-mediated communication and help participants deal with its impact. (SK)

Business students (n=80) participated in a face-to-face, collaborative writing activity, then groups of 4 worked on activities using teleconferencing software. Students saw no differences between the two methods in socialization, brainstorming, conflict resolution, or quality of work. (SK)

Proposes a set of elements that can be taken to constitute the social context of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and digital information. This "digital information environment" can be useful in guiding research into the structure of the social context and its influences on ways in which people in different social and…

Discusses gaps between traditional and virtual organizational environments and suggests that electronic communication training is necessary to lessen the chance for unclear messages, to enhance faceless interactions, and avoid communication overload. Topics include interpersonal skills; verbal and nonverbal communication competencies; written…

Presents a case study that examined communication patterns, participation, the epistemological character of interactions, knowledge construction, and learning processes of college students who used two forms of computer mediated communication to discuss class topics: an asynchronous electronic bulletin board, and a synchronous text chat…

Describes Euroland, a virtual world that was generated within the context of a joint research project between The Netherlands and Italy aimed at the facilitation of cross-cultural communication and collaborative knowledge building between schools using a variety of communication formats, including text-based versus visual and synchronous versus…

Proposes the use of specific coaching strategies to facilitate student use of expert-like problem-solving strategies while analyzing and solving instructional design case studies. At two universities, 37 students analyzed 6-10 case studies in class and in online discussions. Findings suggested primary influences on the incidence of expert…

Describes the Career Portfolio, a tool designed to guide students in developing strategic career plans and marketing their professional qualifications to employers and graduate/professional schools. Provides an overview of the Career Portfolio, including the principles on which the program is based and the features that distinguish it. (GCP)

Investigates the practice of critical literacy through asynchronous computer networking as students in a school-college collaboration examined assumptions relating to gender issues. Finds the medium proved to be an apt environment--students named experiences relating to gender issues that touched their lives, and students felt free to share ideas…