Highlights two recent studies in the field of distance education. C.N. Gunawardena and F.J. Zittle found a high degree of variation between learner satisfaction and social presence in a computer-mediated communication environment. J. McDonald and C. Campbell-Gibson study demonstrated that groups meeting in a synchronous computer-mediated course…

Several brief articles examine how library and information workers in Australia, along with community historians, are meeting the challenge of finding, cataloging, preserving, and communicating local history to their clients and the world beyond. Describes cooperative initiatives by state, local, and regional libraries; discusses how technology…

A study analyzed the functions of 25 publicly accessible college-course Web sites, then surveyed some of the sites' authors. All sites performed course-management functions valued by instructors; a small subset also demonstrated easily implemented, successful, and pedagogically interesting uses of the World Wide Web. Pages conveyed implicit and…

Describes a graduate course on distance learning which uses seven kinds of asynchronous and synchronous interactive media. All students were able to find their voices in one of the media, and many achieved profound learning experiences at a distance. One of the disadvantages of using multiple media is the problem of measuring the outcomes of…

Theorizes the spatial dynamics of both traditional and Internet-networked classrooms to reveal that both exhibit indeterminate spatial characteristics, but that network connectivity renders this indeterminacy visible. Argues that networked classrooms need not be disorienting, if students recreate a center by designing a class Web site, creating…

Explores gender differences in the use of computer-mediated communication in a specific learning context by a small group of postgraduate distance learners and their tutors at the University of Sheffield. Uses content analysis of online dialog to investigate learning and socioemotional behavior. (Author/LRW)

Proposes a Web-based model as the infrastructure to store learning logs for analysis in distance education. Describes the method of using query language to retrieve information from a database to construct the data cube. Illustrates data-cube implementation with a group-discussion example. Shows how data-cube technology can solve the recording and…

Focuses on software for distance education. Discusses the cost of course development and highlights three classes of distance education tools: communication tools, course development tools, and digital imaging and video production software. Presents three scenarios that reflect the most likely approaches to course development and presentation.…

Describes an environmental project which involved the collection and exchange of data on butterflies, including information on climate and vegetation, to monitor their distribution. Schools in several European countries exchanged information via e-mail, and the resulting website has evolved into a site offering information, survey data, curriculum…

Children who attended the Fifth Dimension after-school computer club at least 10 times during the 1994-95 school year performed better on word problem comprehension tests than did non-participating children. Results support the hypothesis that experience in using computer software in the Fifth Dimension club produces measurable, resilient, and…

Advances in computer technology offer opportunities for rural social workers to reduce their isolation and enhance professional communication and for social work educators to stay in touch with the real-world environment of practitioners. Development of an online journal to enhance professional competence is discussed, focusing on meaningful…

Distance learning (DL) provides equal access to higher education for individuals who might not otherwise be able to pursue college degrees. This paper defines DL and distance learners, discusses the quality and status of DL programs, examines emerging teacher and student roles in DL, and presents two DL success stories in higher physical…

The over abundance of general information and health information on the World Wide Web and the use of computer technology in medicine have changed our communication behavior, introducing fractal communication and the use of infoids. These developments may lead to misinformation and have an impact on communication between patient and doctor.…

Research in human-computer interaction is evolving a user-centered methodology for system design and instruction that focuses on integrating affective and cognitive user variables to increase productivity, creativity, and human growth. Discussion includes the survey approach, the experimental-ethnographic approach; theory-building; and the future…

Describes distance learning at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). The system uses a hybrid model involving face-to-face, mediated, synchronous, and asynchronous communication at on- and off-campus sites to create flexible and adaptable patterns. Asserts that the hybrid model offers advantages over a single mode, since…