This review essay explores the complexities and challenges involved in addressing controversial issues in the K-12 public school classroom, drawing from two recent books: Noddings and Brooks's "Teaching Controversial Issues: The Case for Critical Thinking and Moral Commitment in the Classroom" and Zimmerman and Robertson's "The Case…

Nurturing potential is a critical aspect of development for young children with and without disabilities, especially if a child is gifted. This article provides resources that offer ideas for family members and professionals on how to recognize and support each child's strengths. Many of the materials specifically address nurturing potential in…

"Breaking Ranks II" and "Breaking Ranks in the Middle" both call for students to master "academically rigorous essential learnings" that have been established by the school, and students need a strong foundation in reading and writing if this is to happen. There is no doubt that literacy instruction in the early grades is an essential beginning,…

This "snapshot" presents a review of a new family literacy handbook. Edited by Dr. Barbara Wasik of the FPG Child Development Institute, "The Handbook of Family Literacy" provides scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners (both inside and outside the field) with a valuable snapshot of its current boundaries and rapidly growing content.…

Discusses performing arts materials and programs in elementary and middle school curricula; notes developments of performing arts programs in certain states. Describes selected children's books with performing arts themes. (AEF)

Provides an overview of developments in computer-based training (CBT) authoring software and reviews the following products: Macromedia's Authorware, Aimtech's CBT Express, Iprax CourseWorks, Intersystem Concepts' Everest, Aimtech's IconAuthor, Innovus Multimedia, Allen Communication's QuestNet+, and Asymetrix's ToolBook II Instructor. A sidebar…

In 1990, the Dallas County Community College District's (DCCCD's) Computer Center recruited three technology scouts (faculty members interested in media) to locate, preview, and evaluate multimedia products that could be used in the classroom. The technology scout for the humanities found and previewed products that could be used in…

Describes development, hardware requirements, and features of the MultiLIS integrated library software package. A system profile provides pricing information, operational characteristics, and technical specifications. Sidebars discuss MultiLIS integration structure, incremental architecture, and NCR Tower Computers. (4 references) (MES)

A review and commentary on the previous article discusses the effects of stabilized retinal images on performance and the perceptual organization of a patterned skill. Future research on distribution-of-practice is considered. (JD)

High school physics offers opportunities to use problem solving and lab practices as well as cement skills in research, technical writing, and software applications. Describes and evaluates computer software enhancing the high school physics curriculum including spreadsheets for laboratory data, all-in-one simulators, projectile motion simulators,…

Examines HotJava and Java, World Wide Web technology for use on the Internet. HotJava, an interactive, animated Web browser, based on the object-oriented Java programming language, is different from HTML-based browsers such as Netscape. Its client/server design does not understand Internet protocols but can dynamically find what it needs to know.…

A software package, ThinkingLand, was developed to help students' understanding of the content and thinking processes involved when using multimedia. Topics include multimedia reports and knowledge building; journal writing; collaboration; procedural facilitations; and the design and instructional applications of ThinkingLand. (AEF)

Examines commercial electronic document delivery services that are available to academic libraries. Highlights include collection development issues; criteria for selection and evaluation; remote access systems, including CARL UnCover 2, Faxon Finder and Faxon Xpress, ContentsFirst and ArticleFirst, and CitaDel; and on-site access systems,…

Describes TEPACIS, a computer-aided instruction package to train users of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization)-developed CDS/ISIS software, which is used to support the development of computerized textual databases. Discussion covers the structure of TEPACIS; development plans; hardware requirements; and…

Reviews products and services that are resources for staff development for educators. New offerings range from "do-it-yourself" kits to on-site workshops, from product-specific workbooks to Internet sites. The selection process should include costs and how the products and services complement a district's technology plan. (AEF)