Presents guide developed by the McGraw-Hill Information Exchange (MIX) to help educators plan effectively for the use of computer telecommunications. Highlights include telephone lines; modems; software; commercial information services that offer such services as electronic mail and computer conferencing; basic costs and billing formats; and a…

Describes Project Orillas, a telecommunications network designed to improve the writing skills of bilingual and foreign language students studying English and Spanish in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States. The electronic bulletin board system used for communication is explained and guidelines for joining the network are included. (LRW)

Local area networks (LANs) are systems of computers and peripherals connected together for the purposes of electronic mail and the convenience of sharing information and expensive resources. In planning the design of such a system, the components to consider are hardware, software, transmission media, topology, operating systems, and protocols.…

This second in a series of articles on planning for instructional computer networks focuses on site preparation, installation, service, and support. Highlights include an implementation schedule; classroom and computer lab layouts; electrical power needs; workstations; network cable; telephones; furniture; climate control; and security. (LRW)

Informs parents that computers can be used for demonstration; classroom settings; tool laboratories (spreadsheets and graphics); multimedia presentations; networked instructional laboratories; integrated learning systems; schoolwide networks; writing laboratories; distance learning; and telecommunications. A sidebar lists 20 questions to ask when…