A study examined the distinctive communication phenomena which occur on computer bulletin boards, focusing on the Usenet bulletin board system which is estimated to have over half a million readers worldwide. Most universities and research organizations, all over the world, are capable of exchanging information over computer networks through the…

The use of electronic mail has increased in organizations and other areas where computers are used. Researchers report that there are some major effects on the organization and organizational members in group and interpersonal communication. An extensive literature review examined the technology used in computer networks, electronic mail and…

A study explored the social uses of computer-mediated communication, identifying primary users and amounts of time spent using two related systems. Interviews and observations of computer users suggest that a large, socially active computing subculture is based at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst campus. It was hypothesized that members of…

This paper surveys the various teleconferencing trials in the Open University, and attempts to analyze why they have been relatively unsuccessful compared to other new media initiatives such as audio cassettes and computer assisted learning. The situation is placed in the context of British and European educational use of telecommunications in…

Since the early 1980s the evolution of computer mediated communications (CMC) systems designed to support collaborative work has been characterized by two trends. One is the proliferation of new systems to take advantage of technological changes; the second is the incorporation of functionality into highly specialized or tailored application…

The Center for Distance Learning of Empire State College (New York) is piloting online study by offering a course in contemporary American diplomacy entirely through the use of computer conferencing and electronic mail. The computer is used to create a learning environment where course participants can interact with each other and with the…

Discussion of the value of online information services in schools reviews recent reports from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, and describes some of the available cataloging, bibliographic, full text/statistical, videotex, local, and electronic bulletin board services. Four examples of current applications in Australian…

Reports planning for and the installation of about 80 microcomputers for staff use at approximately 50 library units in the University of Michigan Library System. Highlights include the selection of hardware and software; methods of staff training; integration of the microcomputers into library operations; and benefits of electronic messaging and…

Describes research undertaken at Open University (Great Britain) and Deakin University (Australia) in the use of international communication by electronic mail for (1) the collaborative study of distance education and (2) use of international course teams in preparing distance teaching materials. The electronic mail system and difficulties…

Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) offers an annual 2-week intensive Summer Faculty Writing Forum. This Forum accepts up to 15 faculty each year from schools and disciplines across the campus. These faculty members, more used to the role of writing to demonstrate learning, investigate the capacity of writing to…

This Digest summarizes the results of a survey administered to the American Educational Research Associations Survey Research Special Interest Group regarding the use of electronic surveys and discusses their responses in the context of the existing literature base. Topics include the conditions under which use of e-mail or Web-based surveys would…

Online teaching in higher education has become increasingly common, particularly as colleges and universities attempt to serve surging enrollments in some areas and as they look to expand their offerings in other markets. A primary consumer of these courses is the nontraditional student. Because these nontraditional students have unique learning…

This short article consists of some thoughts derived from a longer paper (Palmer, 1992), together with some more recent ideas. I became interested in buckminsterfullerene (Buckyballs) as a result of an E-Mail discussion of the topic in 1991. The chemistry of buckyballs is now evolving very rapidly and is gradually creeping into school…

This report focuses on the methodology and content of a distance education course on strategic financial management organized by the International Institute for Educational Planning from May to July 1999 for 15 universities in Southern Africa. Between three and five staff members participated at each of the universities. The course used written…

A teaching experiment in Finland was designed to clarify ways to teach argumentation in Finnish higher education and how to motivate students to participate in critical content-area discussions. Finnish students traditionally hesitate to criticize each other's opinions or those of the teacher. The experimental teaching method gave them the…