Demonstrates how electronic mail and the World Wide Web are effective tools for focus group research and programmatic decision making by highlighting how an electronic needs assessment survey was conducted on participants' use of the Web. Sidebars contain the four-step focus group methodology; sample questions and responses; and a comparison of…

Assesses the impact of technology on privacy. Discusses electronic monitoring of people in the workplace; interception and reading of e-mail messages; merging of databases which contain personal information; rise in the number of hackers; and the development of software that makes the decoding of digital information virtually impossible. Presents…

Reports the results of a five-year case study of the use of online tools, including the Internet, e-mail, and the World Wide Web, in a graduate School of Education. Highlights include use of activity theory as a conceptual framework; self-efficacy and perceived value; scaffolding; and recommendations for future developments. (Author/LRW)

Reviews evidence for the effectiveness of electronic surveys as evaluation methods for electronic courses and discusses issues in email and Web survey methodologies. Describes the successful use of Web-based surveys in the evaluation system of the University of Sydney Medical Program and includes recommendations for online survey use in course…

Explores how to use computers more effectively to enhance the learning process. Describes results of a survey given to Australian secondary students about classroom computer use. Suggests that more use be made of e-mail as a communication and learning tool. Proposes that teachers become more proactive in explaining to students and developing with…

Discusses three school activities--electronic messaging, problem solving, and database searching--that make use of computer telecommunications. Multipurpose services, equipment and software, training and support, low-cost start-up ideas, and the role of the library media center are also covered. Two recommended publications on telecommunication…

Describes a study that examined the interrelationships among three dimensions of acceptance for computer mediated communication systems (CMCS). The dimensions examined were use, subjective satisfaction, and perceived benefits. It is concluded that future studies of CMCS's should not assume that usage alone or subjective satisfaction alone are…

Describes the use of electronic messaging in elementary and junior high schools in Canada and the United States. Highlights include differences between electronic mail, bulletin board services, and computer mediated conferencing; the role of the teachers; equipment and telephone line considerations; and costs. (LRW)

Discusses expected future developments in full text databases (FTDs) in three main areas: host-based menu-driven systems; menu and front end interfaces on gateway and mailbox services; and microcomputer or front end computer-based systems which already have good retrieval interactions and input output processing features. (24 references)…

Describes an electronic bulletin board called LIBRARY that was developed at Carnegie Mellon University to display the tables of contents of scholarly journals and timely postings of new monographs in the fields of computer science and robotics. Areas discussed include preparation involved in beginning the service, management and upkeep, feedback…

Reports results of a survey of 17 public library systems on their use of electronic mail, desktop publishing, local area networks, and telefacsimile. Two sidebars present steps for the deployment of emerging technologies and the addresses for several vendors of telefacsimile equipment. (nine references) (MES)

Describes the results of a three-year study that tracked actual and perceived future use of electronic communication for teaching, research, service, and personal activities by faculty at Eastern Illinois University. Use before and after a local area network (LAN) installation is discussed, and previous research is reviewed. (20 references) (LRW)

The Job Complex, a forum on career- and job-related concerns, was designed to allow for communication among clients and counselors. Although limitations in online communication do exist, the positives to cyber counseling include efficacy of the counseling approach; increased focus; elimination of prejudicial reactions; broadening perspectives;…

A Group Support System (GSS) is a network of microcomputers with software for the support of meetings and other group work. Using a GSS, meeting participants are able to brainstorm by submitting comments over the network, ranking and rating items in a list, and performing collaborative work. GSS provides anonymity, parallel communication, and…

Explains how to access the Internet, discussing hardware and software considerations, connectivity, and types of access available to users. Describes the uses of electronic mail; TELNET, a method for remotely logging onto another computer; and anonymous File Transfer Protocol (FTP), a method for downloading files from a remote computer. (MAB)