Total quality management requires rapid feedback on performance and an ability to remain close to the customer. Electronic messaging (EM) can provide this capability in traditional instructional settings. This study investigated whether electronic mail and computer conferencing improved course quality and teaching effectiveness for several business administration courses in management information systems. The results, supported by both qualitative and quantitative (survey) data, showed that electronic messaging enabled the instructor to be more accessible and responsive to the students. Additionally, the use of computer conferencing enabled the class to develop a greater level of cohesion. Overall, use of EM increased the perceived quality of the course and the effectiveness of the instructor.
The vast majority of research in the past two decades on the use of computers in education has focused on knowledge acquisition and retention. The focus of this article is to investigate the issues of self-efficacy, attitude, and performance in online courses. Web-based learning will be the term used to describe this type of computer use. The review of literature inquires into the evolution of Computer-Assisted Language Learning towards an integrative approach that leads to Web-based learning. The benefits, components and challenges of Web-based Learning are addressed as well as how this type of approachexploits authentic practice of listening, speaking, reading and writing. This article also probes the relationship Web-based learning and achieving authenticity through the World Wide Web.
Berzelius failed to make use of Faraday's electrochemical laws in his laborious determination of equivalent weights.