Most research applying Social Network Analysis (SNA) to online learning has been focused on understanding the social network of the class as an entity. This work, on the other hand, explores student specific analysis (i.e. analyzing each student individually). This student-centered analysis uses a graphical metaphor to provide the instructor an intuitive understanding of the student's interactions within the class. The paper presents a prototype of the visual metaphor and reports on a pilot study of the application of the prototype to students within a web-based course.

Goals and content: This tutorial will survey major efforts in asynchronous learing networks and will explore detailed examples of successful projects at teh college and K-12 levels. It will then consider a variety of practical issues including steps for putting classes on-line; how to function as an “electronic professor” how to handle logistical issues. The tutorial will conclude with a discussion of probable developments in the next ten years.

This article presents a theoretical framework useful for understanding the functionality of Hypertext systems in terms of their ability to satisfy cognitive requirements for expressing concepts and their relationships. This theoretical framework is derived from a re‐interpretation of Guilford's theory of the Structure of Intellect.

Computer-mediated communication systems represent a fairly new development in interactive computer systems.

Abstract The concept of the journal is reexamined in the light of current computer‐communications technology. Four forms of electronic journals on the Electronic Information Exchange System (EIES) are described as divergent examples of potential journal forms that could become prominent in the future. These are (1) an informal newsletter, (2) an unrefereed “Paper Fair, “ (3) a journal which replicates the traditional print‐based system, and (4) a highly structured inquiry‐response system. The economic imperatives which will force the replacement of current print‐based journals are reviewed. It is predicted that the next few decades will witness the emergence of networks of small computer systems dedicated to dispersed journal functions and under the control of the primary communities responsible for the creation of the information.

Most decision support systems use computers to support interaction between individuals and a structured model, analytic routine, or a database. However, many problems are unstructured or at best semistructured, and are dealt with by groups of managers within organizations. When dealing with nonroutine problems, the decision-making groups are often geographically and organizationally dispersed. Thus, a decision support system for these groups must include communications, structured to support the decision-making process among members of the group. This paper gives several examples of computerized conferencing systems (CCS's) which have served as group decision support systems (DSS's). In addition, the results of a controlled experiment comparing the process and outcome of group decision-making in a face-to-face versus a CCS mode are discussed. Finally, preliminary results are presented from a second controlled experiment which explored how a CCS may best be structured to serve as a group DSS for a specific type of managerial task.

As part of a field trial, the Electronic Information Exchange System (EIES) provided a variety of interfaces and user aids. Users were permitted to freely choose from the available variety at any time. They were then asked to report on their frequency of use of the various alternatives at two points in time. We found that there is no one style of interface or source of user support which will satisfy all users at any point in time, or even the same user as experience and familiarity with the system change. While their generalizability is unknown, our observations suggest that human helpers (user consultants on EIES) are the single most valued source of user support, and that system designers should consider incorporating an integrated and somewhat redundant system of both menus and commands into the interface.

No abstract available.