This issue of JIER includes articles covering a range of topics that address the information systems curriculum and its delivery. Any faculty offering a networking course can gain some ideas from the exercise offered by McCord and Croes, while those involved with systems architectures should read Steenkamp, White, and Kakish's project-centered approach. We all use email to communicate with our students, but is this mode more effective than voice mail when providing feedback to students? Johnson and Keil's earlier version of this paper was recently selected as best paper for the 2002 International Conference on Informatics Education Research in Barcelona, Spain. Many universities are investing in course management software housed on the Internet or on a university intranet. This software may be used in conjunction with traditional classroom instruction, or to deliver stand-alone on-line distance courses. Novitizki examines the impact of asynchronous learning tools on student learning and the learning environment in a traditional classroom. Dick, Case, and Burns examine students' attitudes toward distance education in both the United States and Australia. The main focus of all these suggestions and studies is enhanced student learning. After all, isn't that what we, as educators, are really interested in?
A couple ofthese articles have been through several iterations before they achieved their current states. Thanks go to our reviewers and associate editors. Their valuable time and interest provide insightful comments for improvement. It appears that I thank them in every JIER publication, but without them, there would be no JIER. There cannot be too many THANK YOUS.
Mary J. GrangerReturn to the Table of Contents