Editorial

e-JIST Vol 6 No 1

As the new Executive Editor, let me welcome both old and new subscribers to the first edition of e-JIST for 2003. We have a new look website and presentation format which I hope you find clear to read and easily navigable. My sincere thanks go to the outgoing Executive Editor Ian Mitchell for his major contribution to the previous three editions of e-JIST. I hope to maintain the high standards Ian has developed over the past two years and take the Journal further forward in new and exciting ways. That of course, will depend in no small way on the number and quality of the contributions received for review! Please feel free to contact me about possibly contributing to any of the e-JIST categories, as I am keen to ensure we continue to provide useful and thought provoking content for our readership.

We start the year with an interesting collection of contributions from a number of international authors and practitioners. First up, Daniel Surry and David Ensminger from the University of South Alabama provide an interesting case study of the perceptions of professionals to the implementation of innovations in business and educational settings. Using Ely’s eight conditions that facilitate the implementation of innovations as a theoretical base, Surry and Ensminger compare perceptions in different settings and emerge with some unexpected results, reminding us all of the need to consider a variety of methods of implementation of innovation for different contexts.

Svennson and Magnusson from Sweden follow with a study of collaborative practices of local distance education students, including an examination of the different patterns of work organisation, the various levels of collaboration by groups and the roles of individual group members, as well as the role of information technology generally in such teaching and learning environments. The lessons learnt from this case study should be useful for lecturers and designers when developing and interpreting online activities.

In a similar vein, asynchronous discussion groups are the focus of the paper by Khe Foon Hew and Wing Sum Cheung from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The provision of student feedback in assisting teachers in discussing hypermedia projects is explored, as are the benefits and limitations of using technology in this way. The authors remind us we should not automatically assume all online discussion forums are beneficial, particularly without adequate pre-training for participants, or for those with limited access to the forums.

The final paper in this section is from Vivek Williams of The University of Southern Queensland whose subject is the design of simulations in learning environments. As part of his discussion of interface design and interactive simulation, Williams challenges the common assertion that user-friendly interfaces are the most effective for learners, arguing that some less friendly user interfaces may actually be more conducive to concept learning. He contends that clear definitions of task intention, as well as users’ situational and developmental stages are needed to avoid costly, and more importantly, ineffective uses of technology. I’m sure his thought-provoking work will generate a range of opinions.

In the ‘Current Practice’ section, Chris Morgan from the University of Sydney writes about the various uses of communications technologies on students in educational institutions and how many new practices have significantly affected student and staff engagement, motivation and need to feel part of an effective learning environment. It is a timely reminder that the social impacts of technological change should never be underestimated, and the need to use technology to enhance positive interaction rather than inhibit it. No doubt you will have your own opinions on these issues.

In the ‘Melting Pot’ section, Viv Williams introduces readers to Coursescape – an application designed specifically for information visualisation, navigation and control of an online or CD-based course, while Jacquie MacDonald comments on ASCILITE 2002 held last December in New Zealand in the ‘Conference Review’ section.

I hope you enjoy this edition of e-JIST and I look forward to receiving your comments, suggestions and contributions in the future.

Alan Smith
Executive Editor – e-JIST
smith@usq.edu.au