Impacts of directed tutorial activities in computer conferencing: a case study

This paper describes a qualitative study of asynchronous electronic conferencing by three tutorial groups on the same postgraduate course (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Worldwide), forming part of an MA in Applied Linguistics (via Distance Education) at the Open University, UK. The groups varied in the degree to which the tutor participated in the discussion and in whether the tutor's input took the form of responding to student posts or the setting of tasks to scaffold the learners' development of academic skills. It is argued that the least interventionist strategy in terms of tutor response and task-setting resulted in the least productive conference discussion in terms of both communicative interaction and academic development, while a more interventionist role by the tutor depended for its success on characteristics of the tutor input and the task set.     

Earth's Surface Water Percentage?

A hands-on activity is used to illustrate standard point and interval estimates of a proportion. Since the proportion is more or less known, the accuracy of these estimates can be assessed. A hypothesis test associated with the interval estimate is also given.     

Lessons learned from unsuccessful experiences

This is the first guest column for “Managing Technology”. We hope it typifies the central theme of challenges to managers presented by information technology and the lessons we may share from their application. This essay is of signal interest, appearing as it does at a watershed in library automation. We may expect a wholesale shift in the next several years from single machine integrated systems to distributed computing technologies and a client/server model. The five “lessons learned” in the Oklahoma State experience will be broadly applicable in the next wave of library automation.—C.B.L.