🚀 go-pugleaf

From: anderson@acs.ucalgary.ca (Terry Anderson)
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 14:52:49 GMT
 
I am very pleased to welcome all participants to the Applications
of Electronic Communication for Distance Education in the Third World
topic of the Bangkok Project.  
 
The Bangkok project discussions are the world's first attempt at 
linking all of the major networks in a short term, focused, interactive
discussion.  This discussion is simultaneously being ported to the
Internet, Usenet, Fidonet, Ryme, K12net, KIDSNet and a variety of
stand alone computer systems. I think it is important that, as distance
educators, we apply these communications technologies to our own
professional development. Thus the gathering in which you are
participating.
 
Please feel free to post responses or questions to our First Speaker
or to the audience in general. However remember that your comments
will be widely distributed, thus they should be succinct and on topic!
I would urge participants to follow the network etiquette guidelines
posted last week to this discussion list.
 
An abstract of this topic discussion by Dr. Robin Mason, was also
circulated earlier - it promises to be an interesting and worthwhile
exploration of computer mediated communications especially in reference
to third world applications.  I would like to introduce Dr. Mason to 
you 
in the following paragraphs and as well acknowledge her energies and
support in organizing the Bangkok Project and drafting the First
Speakers for the other 5 topics which make up the Bangkok Project. 
 
Dr. Robin Mason is a lecturer in Computer Supported Cooperative 
Learning at the British Open University.  Her PhD thesis was an
evaluation of the University's pioneering use of computer conferencing
in mass distance education.  Since then she has produced a number of
books and articles including a chapter on evaluation methodologies 
for computer conferencing in A.R. Kaye (ed.) (1992), Collaborative
Learning Through Computer Conferencing, Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 
Her most recent book is an investigation into the written nature of the
medium dilemmas and contradictions it creates.  (Mason, R.(ed.)1992,
Computer Conferencing: The Last Word. Beach Holme Publications, 
Victoria, B.C.).
 
Her present research involves the technologies by which conferencing 
can be enhanced and incorporated: synchronous networking such as
audio-graphics, videocards and videophones, and  multi-media 
workstations in which textual communication plays a part.
 
I will now turn the electronic microphone over to Robin for her
opening remarks.
- 
Terry Anderson
Network Coordinator, Bangkok Project
Dept. of Educational Psychology              Ph 403-284-0922
University of Calgary                        Fax 403-289-4471    
Calgary, AB. Canada T2N 1N4      InterNet ANDERSON@ACS.UCALGARY.CA



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