Describes an electronic survey indicating that there is a wide variety of methods that are currently used in United Kingdom higher education institutions to support undergraduate learning. Raises awareness of what colleagues are doing and promotes an exchange of ideas. (Author/ASK)

This paper reports on research to investigate design features of asynchronous discussion systems for higher education. The research aims to identify features that increase the benefits of discussion systems and reduce the problems. The paper focuses on a major theme that emerged from interviews with learners and teachers: information overload.…

Computer-based communication has tremendous potential to support older adults. But if people are to use such systems autonomously, it is necessary to move beyond current interfaces and systems and develop devices that fit into the environment of the user. Using a Grounded Theory approach, three focus groups were held and, subsequently, 9 older…

This report of a study visit to North America describes three different computer-mediated conferencing systems (CMCS) and how they are used. The first system is COSY (COnferencing SYstem), at the University of Guelph, Ontario. The second system is EIES (the Electronic Information and Exchange System), at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The…

Describes a study conducted at a university in Taiwan that explored the effectiveness of electronic mail as a supplementary aid to instruction and as a communication link between students and between students and instructors in fostering interpersonal relationships. Examines student attitudes toward the instructor, group-mates, and other…

In the Western Pacific, the People First Network project has since 2001 been building a growing network of rural email stations across the conflict-ridden Solomon Islands. These stations are based on robust technology and consist of solar panels, short-wave radios and compatible modems, laptop computers and printers to provide email communication…

Recent turbulence in the corporate world resulting from cross-border mergers and acquisitions and advances in communication technology has meant major changes for internal communication in multinational companies. For example, in Finnish-Swedish mergers the common corporate language is increasingly English even though Swedish has traditionally…

This study focused on examining the overall effect of using email on the improvement of writing performance in aspects of syntactic complexity, grammatical accuracy and lexical density, as well as investigating the relation between the number of email exchanges and writing performance. Subjects in this study were 40 non-traditional EFL students…

Self-access centres are sometimes portrayed as being at the forefront of pedagogical innovation. They are also said to be technology-rich language learning environments. In practice, however, the application of technology in a self-access environment has proven to be a challenge. This article focuses on 10 self-access centres that were found to be…

This paper focuses on the effects of social--structural factors (age, ethnicity and gender) on university students use of web-based instruction. The study uses data from registration questionnaires of students at the Open University of Israel. During the period between 1995 and 2002 there has been a continuous increase in the proportion of…

This paper seeks to examine the use of synchronous and asynchronous messaging systems with distance education students and the implications for student interaction and learning in the institutionalized Integrated Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU). It will present, as a case in point,…

A survey of 172 family doctors found that they approached educationally influential (EI) physicians they knew through their hospitals; only 20% used e-mail and 40% the Internet for medical information; EI physicians helped extend their knowledge and validate innovations found in the literature; and health care reform was negatively affecting…

Studied the effects of publishing school performance indicators in England and France through a literature review, interviews with 18 English principals, and expert discussions through e-mail. Identified many shortcomings of publishing school performance indicators, and made 15 recommendations for the improvement of published information about…

This study aims to test Fishbough's models of collaboration and investigate the use of e-mail and the Internet among science teachers in government secondary schools in two school districts Perth, Western Australia. A mail questionnaire and face-to-face interview techniques were used together to collect data. Thirty-one science teachers from 24…

In terms of education, e-mail has cemented its importance, as well as its status, as the overarching Internet tool. Specifically in the research of teacher education and teacher development, e-mails have been found to be empowering teachers' collaborative and networking practices. Such use of e-mails stimulates and refreshes teachers' professional…