The nature and extent of computer-based electronic communications use by Swinburne University of Technology Multi-modal Learning (Applied Science) students and staff

An analysis of the nature and extent of computer-based electronic communications use by Swinburne University of Technology Multi-modal Learning (Applied Science) students and staff will be presented. Students and staff in the MML Project each have personal portable computers and full Internet connectivity from the University and home. Their special network facility includes group and sub-group broadcast arrangements to promote extensive communications for educational purposes. The paper focuses on the variety of social, administrative and learning uses of email and associated facilities including Gopher, FTP, Archie, IRC, World Wide Web and others, by students and staff. A collection of email messages directed to the authors or broadcast on the network by staff and students is the basic data source.

Use and abuse, benefits and problems created for students and staff involved with this open electronic educational infrastructure are described and analysed.