The American Communication Journal -- Volume One, Issue Three

The American Communication Journal An Online Publication of the American Communication Association Founded: October 1995 Editor: Tyrone L. Adams, University of Southwestern Louisiana Associate Editor: Jim A. Kuypers, Dartmouth College Book Review Editors: Andrew F. Wood, San Jose State University & Ted Coopman, Rogue Communication Consutants Publications Coordinator: Joseph Burns, Susquehenna University Technical Administrator: Ryan M. Harris, Alltel Communications Volume One, Issue Three (1.3) "Convoy: Touring the Promised Land." May 1998, (late-release in August 1998)

Stephanie J. Coopman
San Jose State University

and

Katherine Burnett Meidlinger
San Jose State University

"Interpersonal Stories Told by a Catholic Parish Staff"

ABSTRACT: Organizations are sites of interpersonal communication, although there is disagreement as to the extent such communication occurs and its utility in the workplace. In this study, we were interested in the exchange of interpersonal stories told by the members of a Roman Catholic parish staff in their everyday interactions. We collected stories during the staff's weekday lunchtime gatherings through participant-observation and categorized them according to story type. Of the 88 stories identified, 37 (42%) were collegial, 33 (37%) were personal, 14 (16%) were corporate, and 4 (5%) did not fit any of the categories. In closing, we discuss the implications of these results.

Joseph Kayany
Western Michigan University

"Instructional Uses and Effects of World Wide Web Course Pages:
A Review of Instructor Experiences"

ABSTRACT: This exploratory study reviews the experiences of college/university faculty who have developed web pages and used them as instructional tools. Based on responses from 78 instructors to open-ended questions, the study discusses the perceptions and observations of the instructors on how web pages have been used by their students and how such use has affected the classroom process. The findings suggest that the availability of course material on the web has the potential to increase students' levels of class preparation, participation, attention and above all, increase interaction between the instructors and students. Proposed directions for future research include an investigation of the extent to which students' use of the resource is affected by their comfort level with the technology, preference of teaching styles, and overall academic performance.