Describes the use of a computer conferencing program, Confer II, in freshman college composition classes. Benefits discussed include the opportunity to expand classroom discussions; promotion of interactions between students, both class-related and purely social; and exploration of the link between conversation and expressive writing. (five…

A series of remote viewing experiments were run with 12 participants who communicated through a computer conferencing network. The correct target sample was identified in 8 out of 33 cases. This represented more than double the pure chance expectation. Appendices present protocol, instructions, and results of the experiments. (Author/YP)

Describes a computer-mediated communications (CMC) system called CoSy that performs conferencing and mail functions, and reports on its use at the Open University. Results of a questionnaire that focused on student expectations suggest that the lack of social rules for controlling the flow of dialogue requires attention. (LRW)

A video teleconference can be especially successful in helping adult learners assimilate and use complex information because it offers both an interactive element and the capacity for live demonstration. A teleconference in Wisconsin and Ohio which included 60 sites and 1,500 participants is described. (JD)

Suggests a variety of ways to increase interaction with distance learners on an interactive telecommunications system, based on experiences at the University of Maine at Augusta. Highlights include establishing the proper environment; telephone systems; voice mail; fax; electronic mail; computer conferencing; postal mail; printed materials; and…

Examines the negative aspects of teleteaching and distance education. Makes recommendations for teachers to follow to improve both classroom lecturing and distance education teleconferencing. (JMV)

Surveyed 74 rural school administrators to determine perspectives concerning barriers and problems regarding the use of computer conferencing technologies. Found that computer conferencing use is minimal in schools and nonexistent among school administrators, but interest is high. Administrators agreed with more than half of the 11 barriers…

Describes the Grace project's Group Communication Service which was developed to function in an Open Systems Interconnection global networking environment to aid in computer-supported cooperative work. A conceptual model of group communications is presented, system architecture and system navigation are explained, and two prototype activities are…

Describes 38 introductory print materials the novice may consult before using the Internet, including guides and directories to resources; general information about the Internet; materials about Internet applications such as electronic mail, remote login, and file transfer; and information about Internet tools such as Archie, Gopher, and WAIS…

Analyzes the use of a listserv after a teleconference as part of a faculty development activity. Indicates that 62% of participants in the listserv actively contributed to discussions, 82% reported that using the listserv enhanced the teleconference, and 44% reported that the listserv facilitated changes in the way they completed their work.…

Using web-based bulletin boards in classes elicited enthusiastic responses from 109 graduate education students. They felt it enhanced learning, created a greater sense of community and encouraged participation through its use. Some negative aspects of web-based conferencing (need for self-direction and technological literacy, lack of spontaneity…

Discussion of computer-mediated group problem solving focuses on a study of undergraduates that compared the perceptions of participants, the nature of the comments made, and the patterns of communication in face-to-face and computer conferencing groups in terms of problem-solving activities while solving well-structured and ill-structured…

Reports on the use of electronic mail and an electronic conferencing system to conduct group projects in three educational psychology courses at the State University of New York College at Cortland. Course design is explained and group project design is described, including assignments and oral presentations during regular class sessions.…

Agricultural communication units at land-grant universities (46 of 50) responding to a survey indicated that 2 institutions produced two-thirds of 937 videoconferences in 1993; 31 produced the other one-third. Most evaluate productions, but treat the results informally. Nonevaluators said assessment was not needed, not useful, or too difficult.…

Relates a discussion held via teleconference that addressed trends relating to performance support. Topics include computer-based training versus performance support; knowledge management; Internet and Web-based applications; dynamics and human activities; enterprise application integration; intrinsic performance support; and future possibilities.…