The efficacy of electronic telecommunications in fostering interpersonal relationships

The effectiveness of electronic telecommunications as a supplementary aid to instruction and as a communication link between students, and between students and instructors in fostering interpersonal relationships was explored in this study. More specifically, the impacts of e-mail, one of the most accessible, convenient, and easy to use computer-mediated communications, on student attitudes toward the instructor, group-mates, and other classmates were investigated. A posttest-only experimental design was adopted. In total, 68 prospective teachers enrolling in a "Computers in Education" course participated in the study for a whole semester. Results from the study provided substantial evidence supporting e-mail's beneficial effects on student attitudes toward the instructor and other classmates.