Face-to-face vs CMC: student communication in a technologically rich learning environment, Retrieved February 20, 2009, from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/coffs00/papers/daniel_johnson.pdf

Observations of students in the first year of a new degree program showed many unexpected behaviours with regard to the use of several computer-mediated communication methods. A detailed survey of communication behaviour within the degree was undertaken, assessing how much, and for what purposes, students used the available methods of communication, and what they perceived to be the strengths and weaknesses of each method of communication. The results show that face-to-face communication is preferred over all forms of computer-mediated communication. The findings of the study highlight the pedagogical advantages of being flexible in terms of the communication methods students can use. Specifically, while some of the devices provided by staff were not used by students, others not formally introduced into the degree were embraced by the majority of students