Discusses information technology in higher education. Includes comments from Educom Medal Awards winners honored for contributions made to improving undergraduate education through information technology: Paul Velleman, Cornell; Diana Eck, Harvard; Richard Larson, Stony Brook; David Fulker, University Corporation; and Stephen Ressler, Military…

Discusses telecommunications developments that are affecting distance educators. Topics include bandwidth; educational radio and television; instructional television-fixed services (ITFS); cable television; communication satellites; computers; digital telecommunications; the Internet; other protocols; future systems; telephone switches and…

Discusses how to write assessment instruments for student performance skills with computers that cannot be evaluated by standard paper and pencil tests and considers the library media specialist's role. Highlights include assessing content and the container, or format; using examples of high quality work; giving criteria; revisions; and using…

Observes that the development of new instructional technologies has produced a proliferation of distance learning courses and programs. Examines one mode of distance learning, known as asynchronous learning networks, and discusses some pedagogical principles and practices that can guide this delivery mode. Points to some positive aspects of online…

Examines several education-reform programs supported by the International Business Machines corporation in Charlotte, North Carolina, discussing a typology of corporate involvement, the complexities of corporate involvement, and the benefits and dangers of corporate involvement. Explains that most corporate involvement is very helpful, though some…

To categorize the various components available for use in Web-based instruction, a hierarchical framework was developed for describing related instructional activities. This framework includes six levels ranging from simple information delivery to immersive collaborative environments and includes the general instructional perspective, Web/Internet…

Describes the design and development of Internet-based software for keeping reflective journals that supports learning from field experience by students in a teacher-preparation program. The software and learning system enables students to capture and share accounts of experiences, link to resources, and engage in various modes of conversation and…

This article discusses the Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) at Stanford University, which delivers computer-based multimedia distance learning opportunities to accelerate gifted students in grades K-12 in the areas of mathematics, physics, computer programming, and expository writing. The program also offers computer-based distance…

Tallahassee's Florida State University School is a prototype teaching-learning center that maximizes utilization of technology, time, and space and expands the teacher's role. The new learning scenarios will be unrestricted by buildings, organizational charts, or schedules. Principals must bridge industrial-world artifacts and the emerging…

Describes Discover the USA, an interdisciplinary unit for middle school students that uses trip-planning software and World Wide Web-based resources to teach organizational, research, writing, computer, and practical math and geography skills. Students plan a 1-month road trip in the United States, then take the trip, keeping records of routes,…

Focuses on various technological tools that support online learning: e-mail (voice mail); online discussion groups; online resources; CD-ROM; online courseware; asynchronous communication; synchronous communication; and World Wide Web. Analyzes the attributes of online delivery systems, addressing interactivity and feedback; media features;…

Describes how middle school art class students using the computer program Hyperstudio developed portfolios that provided them with an opportunity to reflect on their artwork. Discusses Hyperstudio in detail and summarizes saving the artwork to individual disks creating a complete portfolio for the middle school years. (CMK)

Describes two efforts to promote equity within the educational system. Teaching SMART is an equity-based staff development program for elementary teachers designed to produce systemic change in the classroom by improving science education. The other effort involves developing computer games that are engaging and educationally rich for both girls…

This article describes how to organize site-based assistive technology packages, determine students' assistive technology needs, and obtain and use the appropriate technology. An assistive technology package worksheet sample and a student worksheet sample are included, along with a list of assistive technology resources on the Web. (Contains…

Describes the design and development of Internet-based instruction for a physiological psychology class. Discusses reasons for selecting the Internet-based form; tools needed to create the instructional materials; development and implementation of the Psychology Electronic Teaching Source (PETS) site; instructional delivery; feedback; and benefits…