Describes a professional development program that involved the use of a multimedia package called "Birds of Antarctica" to develop teachers' understanding of a constructivist epistemology in science education. Argues that teachers who engage themselves as learners in a professional development program have greater opportunities to…

Describes the Correlator, an interactive computer tutorial that helps students explore positive, zero, and negative correlation coefficients. Discusses studies that assessed whether the Correlator aided in student learning revealing that students completing the Correlator better understand correlation coefficients and enjoy the tutorial. (CMK)

Observes that the interpretation of literary texts is a multidimensional task requiring students to master a variety of skills and acquire factual knowledge. Argues that use of the World Wide Web allows for the creation of a virtual classroom where students explore historical and theoretical aspects of interpretation. (DSK)

Concept mapping provides a means for teachers and students to represent their understanding of an area of knowledge. Information from two primary schools suggests that it can be used as a means of evaluating a school's elementary technology program. Information about attitudes/perceptions of technology was constructed into a concept map format.…

Outlines ideas for building interactive home pages for economics classes. Illustrates how to link the home page to course materials, sources of economic data and information, as well as lectures and spreadsheets. Discusses using Internet technology to communicate with, engage, and assess students. (MJP)

Describes the rationale and layout of a "Magic of Multimedia" workshop, a program designed for gifted children (ages 9-12), and housed at Massey University, New Zealand. The multimedia workshop allows gifted children to use HyperStudio to investigate and communicate research findings in creative ways, and encourages social interaction.…

Describes navigation, evaluation, and comprehension skills that instructors should guide students into developing. Outlines a four-step process approach to encourage students to read Web site material for comprehension and discusses application of strategic skills. (AEF)

Introduces other articles in this issue devoted to distributed learning at metropolitan universities. Discusses issues that institutions should address if considering distributed learning: institutional goals and strategic plans, faculty development needs and capabilities, student support services, technical and personnel infrastructure, policies,…

Asserting that providing infrastructure to support online classes is analogous to building a new physical campus adjacent to the pre-existing one, describes the support requirements of online faculty, information technology networks, students, and administrators. Says that if these infrastructure considerations are not addressed near the beginning…

Based on his interactive visualization Web site, the author explores the Web as a tool to build better metaphors for students and emphasizes the pedagogical power of the medium, which, he asserts, remains largely untapped. Discussion includes the use of temporal, special, and parametric process models to increase the pedagogical value of teaching…

Explains what XML (Extensible Markup Language) is; where to find it in a few years (everywhere from Web pages, to database management systems, to common campus applications); issues that will make XML somewhat of an experimental strategy in the near term; and the importance of decision-makers being abreast of XML trends in standards, tools…

Describes the experience of integrating technology with lesson designs through a laboratory of five computers within the classroom. Relates the progression of this experience in three phases, from intellectual resistance to classroom adaptation to critical advocacy. Provides recommendations and lists the initial findings of the laboratory…

Describes an activity in which students create four-part stamp designs using a particular theme, such as sports, that work as a balanced composition, individually and collectively. Addresses how the students created their stamp designs and discusses the students' responses to the project. (CMK)

Describes Apex (Assistant for Preparing Exams), a tool for evaluating student essays based on their content. By comparing an essay and the text of a given course on a semantic basis, the system can measure how well the essay matches the text. Various assessments are presented to the student regarding the topic, outline, and coherence of the essay.…

Places current research on children and computers in historical context with earlier research on the mass media, noting recurrent patterns in 20th century media research. Concludes that to inform and sustain the creation of more quality content for children, further research is needed on the effects of media on children, with new partnerships…