Surveys 117 English teachers to determine their current essay grading practices and their preferences for receiving and using computer ratings. Almost all of the teachers reported that they would use computer ratings to provide feedback to students. However, many reported that they would do less marking on student essays that are rated by computer…

Videotaped observations were made of seventh and eleventh grade students using an instructional hypermedia system. Three profiles of hypermedia navigation emerged with each style characterized by distinct information processing strategies. Analysis of the characteristics of learners revealed that students within each profile group had similar…

Expert users of the Internet were studied to identify the strategies they used to locate specific information. Participants' searching actions were recorded, including counts of each movement from Web page to Web page and within Web pages. Three patterns appeared: keyword searching, hierarchical searching, and meandering. Implications for the…

An after-school computer club was developed in which language-minority children learned to master a series of educational computer games through reading instructions, interacting with peers, and interacting with adult mentors. Results show how an informal educational environment can foster generalizable problem-solving skills that transfer to…

A path-modeling approach is adopted to examine interrelationships between factors influencing computing behavior and computer course performance. Factors considered are gender, personality, intellect and computer attitudes, ownership, and experience. Intrinsic motivation is suggested as a major factor which can explain many variables' relationship…

Reports research findings of an experimental design in which cooperative-learning strategies were applied to closed-lab instruction of computing concepts. SimCPU, a software package specially designed for closed-lab usage was used by 171 high school students of four classes. Results showed that collaboration enhanced learning and that blending…

Outlines important issues to consider when analyzing navigation in hypertext. Identifies internal and external factors of learning and information seeking with hypertext, and presents a summary of related research. Addresses different criteria for analyzing navigation patterns and focuses on the shortcomings of present studies. (AEF)

Provides a background to technology and authentic teaching of culture in foreign language instruction. Introduces each of the five articles in a special issue on technology and teaching where the authors focus on the importance of using different media and technology to facilitate culture learning. (AEF)

Findings from a study investigating students' reactions to a hypermedia program used to analyze real-life interactions indicated that pragmatic awareness can be developed in virtual culture contact situations. Similar interactive software in combination with ethnographic activities may be more effective in culture teaching and learning.…

Film, providing students with the visual, kinesthetic, and auditory modes of learning, is one of the most effective ways to enhance foreign-language acquisition. In-depth diachronic and synchronic analysis of five Japanese films revealed that with careful planning and film-clip selection, teachers can profitably use films in interactive video…

Reports results of a case study of the implementation of a set of culturally-based computer programs designed to accompany a college level 1 French text. Findings indicated that understanding college level students' beliefs about language learning is helpful if innovative language programs are to be successful. (Author/AEF)

Modern technologies can provide language students with authentic content and contextualized, collaborative learning situations. This article illustrates how e-mail exchanges, Web exercises, and CD-ROM development between students in the United States and organizations in Ecuador can promote contextualized and authentic practice of Spanish language…

Uses qualitative research methods to analyze a three-hour (48 contact hours) distance education course. Examines the reduction of social abrasion in distance education resulting from the combination of physical distance, emotional distance, simultaneous two-way verbal and visual access, private communication, and maintenance of distinct knowledge…

Describes a study of undergraduates at Bolton Institute (England) that investigated biological sex, psychological masculinity and femininity, computer comfort, computer engagement, and computer over-use. Discusses the role of applications in determining sex differences, and explains findings that imply that some reduction of sex asymmetries in…

Discussion of learning environments for distance education based on the World Wide Web (WWW) focuses on how academic institutions can collect and analyze data in order to determine the effectiveness of computer mediated distance learning. Describes three models that use analyses of computerized log files, and presents a case study. (Author/LRW)