One-to-one computing, laptop learning, technology immersion: such initiatives are gaining momentum--and sparking excitement and controversy--in middle level and high schools, but the key to their success is more than cutting-edge technology. Henrico County Public Schools, a pioneer in educational technology in Virginia, launched a one-to-one…

This article describes an evolution of training programs to use first-person interaction in virtual reality (VR) situations to teach safety skills to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Multiple VR programs for children aged 2 to 9 were built and tested between 1992 and 2007. Based on these…

Open Source Software (OSS) has introduced a new dimension in software community. As the development and use of OSS becomes prominent, the question of its integration in education arises. In this paper, the following practices fundamental to projects and processes in software engineering are examined from an OSS perspective: project management;…

Major changes in mathematics pedagogy include writing as pedagogy and the role of community in learning. The classroom community is naturally extended by the use of online discussion boards. In this article several models for student use of online discussion boards that have been successfully used to promote mathematical discourse are presented.…

The EDUCAUSE Current Issues Committee, whose members review and recommend the set of IT issues to be presented each year, conducted a Web-based survey in December 2006 to identify the five of thirty-one IT issues in each of four areas: (1) issues that are critical for strategic success; (2) issues that are expected to increase in significance; (3)…

In this article, the author relates his experiences leading the building of the School of Engineering within the new University of California (UC) campus of UC Merced. He discusses the goals of the project, as well as the challenges it faced, and concludes with personal lessons for those tasked with similar positions within university building…

This paper explores the possibility of bringing e-learning to African universities through collaborative networks of public-private partnerships. It is envisaged that this approach will solve the dual problem of infrastructural barriers and weak ICT policies. As technology is used more in education, the teachers' roles are increasingly integrated…

This second phase of a project to promote adoption of new educational technology by special education administrators includes three case studies conducted in eastern U.S. school districts. Information was gathered on activities and perspectives of special education administrators concerning technology, technology implementation in the district,…

Gettysburg College (Pennsylvania) developed a program which centered on NCSA Mosaic as a vehicle for collaborative learning. The project involved a select number of incoming freshmen who lived together in the then-experimental residential college program. Goals included mastery of basic library and computer skills, gaining familiarity with…

A suite of networked computer tools within a pedagogical framework was designed to enhance earth science education at the high school level. These tools give students access to live satellite images, weather maps, and other scientific data dealing with the weather, and make it easy for students to make their own weather forecasts by creating…

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) began offering courses by Desktop Videoconferencing (DVC) in fall 1995 and continues to experiment with ways to use this new and flexible teaching tool. This paper describes the MTSU DVC system in an attempt to expose educators to this new technology and its many possibilities, and to stimulate discussion…

Instructional technology can help teachers formalize alternative methods of assessment. It allows them to record and report on student performance more fully and more dynamically. This paper discusses tools and methodologies used by a group called Teachers Using Technology to Measure Mathematics Meaningfully as they expanded their repertoire of…

A growing concern is that our nation is failing to provide a technology infrastructure for K-12 education that will enable graduates to compete in the information-based economy of the 21st century. The Living Textbook project is designed to deliver real-time, multimedia information on demand for use in classroom instruction. Three pilot schools in…

This paper reports on student reaction to the use of computer programs in political science courses during 1991-1995 at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The courses were junior-senior level courses, except for the honors section. Three types of software were used: (1) simulations; (2) Internet materials; and (3) data processing software…

Interactive kiosks are becoming very popular in industries, educational institutions and public facilities. This paper discusses the design and development of a multimedia kiosk (Project iTOWER) by the University of Texas at Austin using the state-of-the-art technology and reports the results of the use of this system by students. The kiosk…