Abstract
After 6 years, reflections
on the current status and purpose of the Journal provide an overview into its
beginnings. The embedded use of multimedia by authors in describing aspects of writing and
research is an additive dimension to the authoring process and is an underlying
concept of the Journal. This unique dimension of the Journal provides insight into the authoring process.
Authors can incorporate this dimension at the outset of their research leading
to an expansive understanding for readers. The current Journal issue, the
largest in the Journal's history, is overviewed.
It has now been 6 years since
Marty Jencius and I began the Journal of Technology in Counseling. We are both
pleased to have created a venture that has brought attention to those interested
in technology in the counseling field and highlighted so many wonderful efforts
on the part of counselor educators and practicing counselors. In taking just a
moment to reflect on the Journal's startup process, we were excited about the
possibilities of bringing an online journal dedicated to the use of technology
and grounded in the tradition of professional, peer-reviewed publications that
allowed for innovation and advancement in counseling. We continue today to
be enthusiastic about this
venture.
I should mention, as you may be
aware, that the Journal has undergone a recent revision. A new look for the
Journal signifies our move to a new and larger server housed in the University's
College of Education and provided the opportunity to renew
our publication. It has been 2 years since our last issue, yet this time has
allowed for a revitalization of our efforts to continue the Journal. We are very
pleased to present this issue, our largest ever, with some of the most
interesting projects yet. Our focus will continue to provide a platform for
those interested in innovation in teaching and practice. These innovations,
apparent from our authors work, must also apply to the Journal itself. For
example, we have made a decision to present video in the best
streaming format and encourage our readers to upgrade their media players in
order to have the best viewing experience. Our behind the scenes process has
changed, and I believe, improved as we manage manuscripts and reviews. We are
poised now to provide a shorter turn around time for reviews and decision
processing for authors. Actually, this is a very exciting time and
this issue in
particular,
demonstrates the remarkable work
among counseling professionals. I am particularly
impressed with the diversity on many levels and unique array of innovation
created by our authors in this issue.
The Journal of Technology in Counseling is continuing to
strive to provide a multimedia approach to publication. In our original article,
A New Professional Publishing Paradigm: Cyberpublication and The Journal of
Technology in Counseling, Marty and I laid out our vision of publishing
where multimedia would enhance the learning and sharing experience for readers.
One focus was to allow for authors to directly, beyond the structured
manuscript, engage the readers with their thoughts about various aspects of
their work. For example, we envisioned, an author would share the very
beginnings of the process leading up to the study. That is, one could learn
why an author was interested in a specific topic and the processes driving
the work, that eventually led to the design and completion of the project. Dr.
Trey Fitch, University of Cincinnati, in an article entitled:
Interactive CD-ROM Development for Use in Research: A Study in Clinical
Supervision, in this issue of the Journal, does just that in his first
videos. We believe that given this additional insight into research and
publication, the ultimate result is that of a more informed readership. It also
sets the stage for innovation as readers can pursue research design AND add a
“process” component to the publication itself. In other words, the reader of
research and writings can see a “behind the scenes” view that shows aspects of
the study, thoughts of the authors, training and methods, demonstrations, and
unique aspects of the study traditionally not seen in research publications.
This process could lead to a shift in the very planning of research projects.
Researchers can begin to think of documenting the process at the outset of their
work and share with others an important process component that is seldom
witnessed or discussed.
Here at the Journal of Technology in Counseling, we
appreciate the inclusion of additional data from the researchers experience.
Those in the field of counseling are focused on the experience of others as we
work with our clients in therapy and with our students in the classroom. The
experience shared with others can work to support and challenge our view of
professional publication. We look forward to an exciting future for this type of
innovation and truly appreciate our readers, authors, editorial board and
supporters.
The teaching process is yet
another area that gives authors the opportunity to consider publication of their
methods and technique in a multimedia format. The importance of sharing teaching
models and methods cannot be underestimated. The ability to publish innovative
ideas and models for teaching in counselor education can have a tremendous
impact for both instructors and students. The Journal of Technology in
Counseling is poised to support those interested in sharing these innovations on
our multimedia platform. The benefits, using the visual and auditory modalities
available, translate into a more demonstrative, and
conceivably,
efficient learning process.
In order to keep pace with
technology advancements, counselors and counselor educators must follow
published advancements in the field. Often times, this can be a difficult task.
One analogy that can be drawn to examine this process of tracking technology can
be seen in the efforts of counselor educators to train their students to track
clients in the counseling process. Those instructors who provide training in
basic counseling skills are familiar with the term "tracking". This term refers
to the counselor's ability to focus solely on the client's presentation as they
build a relationship and work toward designing a treatment approach in the best
interest of the client. This tracking process is an essential component within
the dynamics of the counseling process.
With technology, keeping pace with the
latest innovations requires the instructors to "track" improvements that
directly affect those methods which they currently use or may consider
for use. For example,
faculty members using a particular Web creation software package, for
example WebCT, must be prepared to incorporate changes and
upgrades to remain current. Authors in the Journal can assist with this process
and provide valuable instruction toward the notion of "tracking technology".
We will continue to provide a platform to share the wonderful
inventiveness of those who have given us much to think about as we teach, train
and counsel. It has been my pleasure to be a part of this truly innovative
project, The Journal of Technology in Counseling.
The Largest Issue Ever
This issue provides a wealth of information and inspiration.
You will find an array of stimulating writing from a diverse grouping of
authors. Under our research section, Cleborne D. Maddux, Edil Torres-Rivera,
Marlowe Smaby, Rhoda Cummings look at web page design of multicultural
counseling in their article entitled:
Revisiting Style and Design Elements of World Wide Web Pages Dealing with
Multicultural Counseling.
Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy presents her work on school
counselors use of technology in the article entitled:
An Examination of Urban and Suburban School Counselors’ Familiarity with and
Usage of Computer Technology. Nadine
Pelling,
Senior Lecturer
in Psychology and Counselling at the University of South Australia in Adelaide,
discusses her survey results in:
A Survey of Carers’ Counseling Wants and Needs: In Person, by Telephone, and via
the Internet.
Another group of authors provide insight into creation of a CD-ROM
for use in research in an article entitled:
Interactive
CD-ROM Development for Use in Research: A Study in Clinical Supervision.
Ryan Greene, Gerard Lawson and Hildy Getz
consider the impact of the internet for counselors in:
The
Impact of the Internet: Implications for Mental Health Counselors.
Patrick Akos and James Trier focus on school
counselors media representations in their work entitled:
An Examination of Media Representations of School Counselors.
A unique contribution to this Issue is that of
Andrew Daire and Scott Ramus in an article entitled:
A CD-ROM Supplement to Practicum in Counselor Education.
The video in this article demonstrates their
program’s use of technology to orient practicum students to the program
expectations and basic counseling skill needed for success in the program.
Wendy-Lou Greenidge and Andrew Daire look at the use of gaming technology for
counselor education in their work entitled:
The Application of Gaming Technology in Counselor Training Programs.
Two other articles in our Research Section of
this issue are Joshua Watson’s
Factors Influencing the Online Learning Efficacy Beliefs of
Counselors-in-Training
and
Tina M. Schneider, Richard A.
Wantz, Tabitha Rice, Jennifer A. Long’s article entitled:
Components and Implications of Distance Learning in Counselor Education: A
Literature Review. Both articles make
significant contributions to our understanding of online and distance learning
knowledge base.
In our
Teaching Section of the Journal, authors provide insight in the counselor
education process and give us an opportunity to appreciate their dedication to
the field. Among the first in this section is
Marti J. Glass, Denise
Daniel, Richard M. Mason, Agatha Parks-Savage’s article on technology
integration entitled:
The Integration of Technology into an Online Doctoral Program in Counselor
Education and Supervision.
Christine Marie Karper, E.H. Robinson, III, Montse Casado consider
academic achievement and computer assisted learning in:
Computer Assisted Instruction and
Academic Achievement in Counselor Education. Also of interest in the area of supervision is Barbara Trolley
and Alan Silliker's The Use of
WebCT in the Supervision of Counseling Interns. Debra S. Osborn looks at students view of career
counseling websites in: Seeing
Career Counseling-Related Websites Through the Eyes of Counselor Ed Students.
Clarrice Rapisarda and Marty Jencius add to the Teaching Section, with an
article on videoconferencing entitled:
Using High Bandwidth
Videoconferencing to Enhance Technology Attitudes in Students.
In the Journal's Practice
Section, Pedro Perez, a member of the counseling
faculty at Borough of Manhattan Community College, discusses ideas to
enhance counseling centers websites, in:
Using
Developmental Methodology to Create or Enhance Your Counseling Center Web Site:
A Collaborative Research Based Model. From the University of South
Australia, John H. Court and Peter Winwood present:
Seeing the Light in
Cyberspace: A cautionary Tale of Developing a Practical Model for
Cybercounseling and Cyber Supervision within the University of South Australia.
Also in the Practice Section of this issue, is Elizabeth R. O’Brien's work:
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and
Internet Addictions. Jake Protivnak presents on virtual reality in his
article entitled:
Virtual Reality Therapy as Treatment of Specific Phobia. In the
Journal's Professional Exchange Section, Emily Hall Ray gives an overview to a
unique website in her work entitled:
Technology in Counselor Training: An
Innovative Website for Building Case Conceptualization Skills.
This issue of the Journal of
Technology in Counseling shows outstanding work by its authors. Throughout
professional counseling the use of technology is growing, these works highlight the skill and innovation being
pursued in our field. The Editors of this Journal are pleased to be a part of
such a project and will continue to support the efforts of those who see
technology as valuable to the teaching and practice of professional
counseling.
Author's Biography
Michael L. Baltimore is a
founding editor of the Journal of Technology in Counseling and is a
Professor of Counseling in the Department of Counseling, Educational
Leadership and Professional Studies at Columbus State University. He
maintains a private practice for counseling and supervision in Columbus,
Georgia. He can be reached at:
baltimore_michael@colstate.edu.
