Discusses the National Research and Education Network (NREN) and explains its role in the information infrastructures of higher education and research. Stages in the growth of NREN from 1970 to 2015 are described, finances are discussed, prospects for management and users are considered, and suggestions for future growth, finances, and public…

Discusses a possible national education computer network that would include elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions. Topics addressed include Internet; common standards; distributed computing; open access; equity concerns; and examples of two successful public school networks in Virginia and Texas that are linked through the…

Describes a cross-disciplinary program at Mississippi State University that incorporates computer-aided art and design education into a new field called computational design. Curricula basics are explained; introductory and advanced courses are described; the use of computer networks is discussed; and possibilities for graduate study are explored.…

Methuen Public Schools, Massachusetts, has become a wired school system with computers in every classroom, Internet access, and state-of-the-art mixed-media. Five citizens who work in the technology industry formed a steering committee to drive the project. A long-term partnership with a private vendor, Lucent Technologies, addresses the…

Examines the use of new technology in foreign-language classrooms, specifically language labs equipped with interactive computers, interactive software packages, CD-ROMS, e-mail, and the Internet. States that faculty members are creating language multimedia packages that engage students in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Suggests ways…

Explores ways for librarians to improve search strategies in a globally networked computing environment. Discusses browsing versus more structured search strategies; thinking processes and information-seeking processes; supplementing the traditional reference interview with computer-based reference assistants; models for automating the reference…

The new library at Eastern Michigan University provided Learning Resources and Technologies (LR&T) with an opportunity to restructure its services and fully integrate technologies and technology services for the 21st century. Challenges facing LR&T include the need to reallocate and/or reclassify staff positions, extend the campus network…

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has made remarkable progress in the area of networking. An education network is being developed to provide mass training and resource-based learning. The development of networked education in India is highlighted and a model is suggested for the virtual classroom. (Author/AEF)

Describes the experiences learned in using the Internet for teaching students at the master level. Focuses on what seems to work and what does not work. Discusses the minimum equipment needed to make the course a successful one. (AEF)

Describes programs in Florida that help teachers integrate technology into their classrooms. Highlights include technology literacy for students; creating learning environments; Web sites; state standards; the Florida Information Resource Network; the Instructional Technology Resource Center; and the development of an online high school. (LRW)

Discussion of information technology in Japan includes historical background, government-initiated movements for school reform backed by computer networks, and the introduction of an information technology course in senior high schools. Describes a nationwide open education project in Korea and the state of cyber universities supported by the…

The University of Manchester (England) and University of Georgia adult-education programs established a listserv, a computer-based community in cyberspace, to create international links and experiment with new technology. The project failed to develop a sense of community among participants, which had its origins in assumptions about groups in…

Discussion of the use of technology for teaching and learning science focuses on studies that explored trends in teaching science with technology. Highlights include projects using telecommunications through computer networks; constructivist theory and the use of hypermedia; and computer-supported collaborative learning. Implications for teachers…

Discussion of a core curriculum in Hungary focuses on the role of information technology in curriculum development in elementary education. Topics include personal computers; networks; multimedia; the Internet; tasks and goals for various subject areas; content elements; and didactic considerations. (LRW)

Educational institutions that wish to implement a specialized teaching laboratory often have a variety of obstacles to overcome. Some of these obstacles are related to adapting existing classroom infrastructure, building the laboratory, and meeting the demands for multiple-use classrooms to maximize the return on investment. In some cases, such as…