Electronic Conferences Research Articles

Screen-Based Assessment

Inexorably and across several fronts, screen-based assessment is becoming a major part of the experience of university students, particularly but not exclusively in the sciences. This movement reflects the emphasis the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is giving to the development of screen-based assessment at secondary level, where the universal availability of an -assessment option in high stakes exams is an adopted goal. The drivers for this change are economic, pedagogic and opportunistic. Rapid technological progress is facilitating the wider availability of computer based tasks that reflect authentically the learning outcomes of science courses. There is growing experience in the design of such tasks, with increasing commercial involvement, particularly in the USA. An examination of theories of assessment demonstrates that there are sound pedagogic reasons to pursue these developments. The main focus of this review will be assessment for which a computer acts as a means of delivery, grading and feedback. I will outline the capabilities of contemporary systems, illustrate some good practice, and identify areas where the use of the technology is moving forward rapidly. There are exciting developments in the grading of free format responses, in diagram or text form, which are now emerging on a pilot basis. Of particular interest is the assessment of higher order cognitive and subject skills. Also important is the potential for item banks that can allow the sharing of the costs of authorship. Several of these issues are reviewed more fully in Conole and Warbuton. Finally, I will comment briefly on assessment that is facilitated by computers without the computer acting as a grading tool. At a mundane level, this might involve the electronic submission of traditional assignments. Of more interest are electronically mediated peer assessment, the generation of e-portfolios, the grading of screen based experimentation and the evaluation of the student’s performance in contributing to computer based group activities, e.g. Wikis, electronic conferences, etc.

Are Electronic Conferences a Solution in Search of an Urban Problem?

This article briefly reviews initiatives that have attempted to create communities of educators using Web-based, electronic conferencing. The authors critically analyze the advocacy for electronic communication as a medium for bringing educators together across time and distance with an emphasis on what is known about urban schools, access to Internet connections, and teachers’workloads. Although not a research report, the analysis is grounded in 4 years of ongoing research and development of the Novice Teacher Support E-mentoring Project and in the evaluation of the expansion of this concept to institutions in the Greater Chicago area. The authors raise questions about the role of technology and the intensification of expectations of urban educators.

Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids as a Treatment for Depression in the Perinatal Period

To consider the possible rationale and utility of omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment for depression in the perinatal period. A review of published and unpublished research was undertaken, using electronic databases, conferences proceedings and expert informants. Relevant bodies of evidence include an epidemiological link between low fish intake and depression. Laboratory studies show correlations between low omega-3 fatty acid levels and depression, as well as reduced levels of omega-3 in non-depressed women during the perinatal period. Treatment studies using omega-3 in patients with mood disorders further support an omega-3 contribution, as do neuroscientific theories. Research into omega-3 and infant development also highlights potential effects of depletion in the perinatal period and supports infant safety and benefits of supplementation. There is a relative lack of knowledge about the safety of standard antidepressants in the perinatal period. There is a clear need for more research into alternative treatments, such as omega-3 fatty acids, in the management of depression in the perinatal period.

Patterns of debate in tertiary level asynchronous text-based conferencing

Argumentation can be defined at different levels and serve different purposes, but its role in knowledge understanding and construction has given it a central place in education, particularly at tertiary level. The advent of computer-supported text-based conferences has created new sites where such educational dialogues can take place, but the quality of the interaction and whether it is serving its educational purpose is still uncertain. This paper reports on a framework of analysis that has been developed to illuminate the arguing process within an asynchronous electronic conferencing environment, showing how it is both similar to, and different from, argumentation in the more traditional forums of multi-party, face-to-face discussion and traditional written essays. The framework develops earlier work by the authors and is applied to two electronic conferences within the same postgraduate course, comparing overall patterns of argumentation. Findings are presented on the extent to which the technology of electronic conferencing shapes and supports students’ participation in academic literacy practices relating to argumentation, proposing, at the same time, that the teaching strategy adopted by the lecturer is also an important variable.

Exploring the Potential of Electronic Mentoring

In this article we discuss the development of four electronic mentoring programs as distributed communities of practice that support both pre-service and in-service teachers. A distributed community of practice implies that the majority of interactions take place in an online environment. In these projects, electronic conferences provided the infrastructure on which to build the programs and the research. Data were collected as part of an internal evaluation of each initiative developing electronic conferences to support teacher education in four institutional contexts. Our work investigates the nature of both novice Teachers' and mentors' participation within the electronic conferences, the roles they assumed, and their perceptions of the opportunities and constraints surrounding electronic mentoring through this medium. The findings are discussed in relation to the conditions that encouraged and discouraged interaction as well as the role Teachers' perceptions played in their participation.

A Fault-Tolerant Architecture for Supporting Large Scale Digital Libraries

At the Research Library of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), we have developed an affordable multi-terabyte redundant RAID system -- running on Linux -- that addresses the needs of a constantly growing demand for electronic journals, conferences and standards. Although there are several practical issues associated with systems supporting electronic content -- such as acquisition, archiving, access and cataloging -- this paper will focus on archiving and providing access to electronic journals. This article explains the design and development of a scalable, fault-tolerant and affordable system, presents an overview of the architecture, summarizes the problems and architectural issues encountered, and describes the technical solutions adopted.

Key establishment in large dynamic groups using one-way function trees

We present, implement, and analyze a new scalable centralized algorithm, called OFT, for establishing shared cryptographic keys in large, dynamically changing groups. Our algorithm is based on a novel application of one-way function trees. In comparison with the top-down logical key hierarchy (LKH) method of Wallner et al., our bottom-up algorithm approximately halves the number of bits that need to be broadcast to members in order to rekey after a member is added or evicted. The number of keys stored by group members, the number of keys broadcast to the group when new members are added or evicted, and the computational efforts of group members, are logarithmic in the number of group members. Among the hierarchical methods, OFT is the first to achieve an approximate halving in broadcast length, an idea on which subsequent algorithms have built. Our algorithm provides complete forward and backward security: Newly admitted group members cannot read previous messages, and evicted members cannot read future messages, even with collusion by arbitrarily many evicted members. In addition, and unlike LKH, our algorithm has the option of being member contributory in that members can be allowed to contribute entropy to the group key. Running on a Pentium II, our prototype has handled groups with up to 10 million members. This algorithm offers a new scalable method for establishing group session keys for secure large-group applications such as broadcast encryption, electronic conferences, multicast sessions, and military command and control.

Taenia solium cysticercosis/taeniosis: potential linkage with FAO activities; FAO support possibilities

Neurocysticercosis due to Taenia solium metacestodes is an important cause of human morbidity and mortality, particularly in parts of Latin America, Africa and Asia. The disease has been recognized as potentially eradicable. Emphasis has been placed on control through mass chemotherapy of human populations to remove tapeworm carriers, but this strategy does not control the source of infections, which is cysticercosis in pigs. Also, transmission may continue due to incomplete chemotherapy coverage of human carriers or because of immigration of tapeworm carriers into controlled areas. The FAO through the Veterinary Public Health (VPH) and Food Safety program has provided support for the write-up of guidelines for cysticercosis, diagnoses and control. This should be released in a joint effort with OIE and WHO and will provide regular support to seminars, workshops and congresses related to VPH. The FAO regular program has also established a global network of people directly involved in VPH, and is currently in the process of establishing four regional networks located in Asia, Africa, Eastern and Central Europe and Latin America. The networks should provide a basic framework to spread information related to diagnosis, prevention and control of major zoonotic diseases through electronic conferences, discussions, newsletters, and a Directory to establish contact with people involved in VPH and zoonotic diseases. Through the Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) the FAO has a tool to help Member Countries to create the basic environment to control emerging zoo-sanitary problems, such as zoonotic and food borne diseases.

Extending Traditional Classroom Boundaries

Mainframe and networked computers provide faculty and students the opportunity to carry on classroom discussions, or conversations that might never take place, even after the bell rings. Internet and World Wide Web facilities provide additional sources of ideas and information and limitless opportunities for students to engage the world of economics outside the classroom. With examples of real world experiences using e-mail, electronic conferences, and the World Wide Web, this paper provides readers with an exposure to some of the uses as well as the costs and benefits associated with incorporating these types of electronic components into economics courses. Instructors who value the processes of discussion, dialogue, and public discourse and who are interested in incorporating these forms of electronic resources into their courses, whether serving small or large numbers of students, will find useful ideas for enhancing economics courses.

Socio‐ecological strategies for future sustainability a review of an internet conference

AbstractThe recent upsurge in information technology has provided the international community with an easy access to professional journals (e.g. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology at http://www.ejb.org; etc.), discussion groups (e.g. bioenergy@cret.org; digestion@crest.org; etc.) and recently to electronic international conferences (e.g. ICIBS; http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidbiotech, etc.) as well as a series of biotechnological information material (e.g. http://www.psrast.org, etc.) to stay in contact and receive up‐to‐date information in biotechnology. There is no doubt that this new technology will be more cost effective in future and reach more people in communities around the globe.This review reports on one such an electronic conference aiming at bridging the communication gap between developed and developing countries. This conference dealt with integrated biosystems and has provided an excellent forum for more than 100 active participants from all regions of the world. As has been demonstrated in this review, the conference was able to show the very different approaches towards the use of biotechnology in developed and developing countries, cold and tropical climate regions owing to their different ecological, economical and societal problems. It also demonstrated very clearly that the field of molecular genetics and/or genetic engineering is not a priority issue in developing countries, but rather the need for clean technologies, multiproduct formation through socio‐economic integrated biosystems, e.g. incorporating microbial waste management into agro‐industries, in human activities and their roles in creating better health conditions, a better environment and sustain development.It is hoped that this review will lead to a greater use of the electronic facilities available to inform and educate both the northern and the southern communities more readily of their needs and requirements to improve understanding and efforts for a sustainable future.

Experiences with Electronic Conferencing: a case study of electronic discussions on gender and waste management

Reports important lessons learned in the organization of electronic conferences and proposes a step by step guide to planning similar conferences on other topics. Discusses various benefits from staging electronic discussions and indicates key indicators for success for similar conferences. The lessons learned are mainly drawn from the experience of holding electronic conferences on solid waste management in 1997 and 1998, mainly from the most recent conferences on Gender and Waste Management held between 9th–26th of May 1998 on the solid-waste-management-recycle discussion list.

Conversation and community: The potential of electronic conferences for creating intellectual proximity in distributed learning environments

As distance-independent technologies increase the flexibility with which students may participate in higher education, they may decrease the opportunities for peer interactions. This report explores electronic conferences as a medium in which community can develop among students. It examines a conference that was set up by graduate professional school students for their own use. Questionnaire data were gathered 9 months and 27 months after the conference was initiated, and the conference content for two corresponding 9-month periods were analyzed using a coding dictionary derived from the literature of professional socialization. Research questions addressed student perceptions of the conference as a communication environment, the role of the conference in the professional school experience, and the differences between individuals who posted entries to the conference and the conference lurkers. The results indicate that students used the conference environment to extend their educational community, with stronger effect for posters than lurkers.

The Possibility of the Internet Electronic Conferences for Urban Master Planning

The Possibility of the Internet Electronic Conferences for Urban Master Planning

Conversation and community: The potential of electronic conferences for creating intellectual proximity in distributed learning environments

Conversation and community: The potential of electronic conferences for creating intellectual proximity in distributed learning environments

Peer review on the Internet: A better class of conversation

Peer review on the Internet: A better class of conversation

Electronic communications and communities

The barriers to communication between scholars and between scholars and the public have been falling as the Internet has grown. Although most of the publicity goes to the web, surveys show that the email is used by more people. Since it is based on characters rather than graphics, bandwidth and modem speed are less problematic than they are for web pages. In addition, while the web is the best way to disseminate information on the internet, electronic conferences and newsgroups are still the best way to interact on the internet. Electronic conferences for archaeologists began in 1986 when Sebastian Rahtz and Kris Lockyear created the ‘Archaeological Information Exchange.’ Four years later AIE begat ARCH-L and the number of archaeologists participating has grown steadily. Today ARCH-L has about 1800 subscribers in 44 different countries; most subscribers are in the US and the UK. ARCH-L now averages about 16 messages a day; just under 3000 messages were posted in the first 6 months of 1997. In addition to ARCH-L, there now are at least 40 other electronic conferences and newsgroups covering different aspects of archaeology.

The Network of Networks Project: electronic communications and CD‐ROM data storage ‐ some challenges for information delivery

Describes the Network of Networks project in Latin America, the objective of which is to improve access by the end‐user to existing information resources through an integrated approach to network support and development. Discusses its experiments with various information technologies including electronic communications, through AlterNex/Internet. Describes the use of electronic conferences to coordinate and discuss information services and product delivery, cooperative CD‐ROM production, marketing and information management. Anticipates the future use of CD‐ROM for full‐text document delivery.

The World-Wide Web as a chemical information tool

The Internet-based information tool known as the World-Wide Web began to be widely used in 1993. This review will inteoduce the basic structures that characterise the Web and how standards and methods for expressing chemical content by this means have evolved during the last three years. We outline some of the challenges that face the chemical and related scientific communities in adopting this new medium as an information tool, with a focus on electronic journals and electronic conferences.

Freedom of Speech in Cyberspace from the Listener's Perspective: Private Speech Restrictions, Libel, State Action, Harassment, and Sex

The success of the new electronic media in the marketplace of marketplaces of ideas -- where information providers compete for that scarcest of resources, the attention span of modern man -- will turn on how well they can satisfy listeners' desires. This article discusses several (generally little-noticed) free speech issues with an eye towards how First Amendment doctrine can (and sometimes can't) accommodate listeners' concerns. Specifically, it talks about: (1) private speech restrictions in electronic conferences, why they're often a good idea, and why they're generally constitutionally protected; (2) state action questions that arise when edited conferences are run on government-owned computers or by government employees; (3) the surprising potential applicability of some telephone harassment laws to cyberspace; (4) the even more surprising and troubling potential applicability of hostile public accommodations environment claims; and (5) the implications for cyberspace of state laws barring the public display of harmful-to-minors material.

Scoring at conferences: The quarterback technique for gathering intelligence

AbstractConferences, conventions, and trade shows are such common sources of information on competitors that CI professionals too often take them for granted, failing to realize that a “game plan” is necessary to take maximum advantage of intelligence gathering at these events. As a remedy, the authors have adapted the “Quarterback Technique” developed by the U.S. intelligence community. The process isn't “mission: impossible” but does make use of a tactical team headed by a “quarterback” who plans and anticipates collection opportunities, begins to link with “targets” who can address specific intelligence requirements, finds internal and (trusted) external “sources” who have potential access to specific targets, and determines which events and activities could help bring sources and targets together. This operation is best coordinated from a “war room” at the conference site, equipped with tools ranging from the simple (butcher‐board paper and colored markers) to the relatively sophisticated (electronic organizers, digital cameras, and pocket tape recorders). As sources are debriefed, CI analysts located either at the conference or at headquarters immediately review the intelligence reports and recommend follow‐up collection activities during the conference, alerting and soliciting feedback from senior management if the intelligence proves significant. Many of these same techniques can be adapted for electronic and virtual conferences. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.