Collaborative learning provides students with vital opportunities to create and build knowledge. Existing technologies can facilitate collaborative learning. However, barriers exist to enacting collaborative practices related to the coverage of material for assessments and classroom management concerns, among others. Teachers can overcome these…

Most classrooms in the U.S. are composed of students with different learning styles and experiences as well as different achievement levels (Ferguson, 2001). Personalized learning is a unique way of students' learning determined by their own learning style, pace, and needs. Focusing on individual differences, personalized instruction aims to…

J. Michael Spector's academic preparation was in philosophy--epistemology and logic, primarily. His dissertation was on skepticism in modern philosophy, and that led him to a deep-seated appreciation for classical skepticism. The word "skeptic" is derived from the Greek word "skepsis," which means investigation. While the…

This article describes one school district department's efforts to train and support teachers in providing effective curriculum, instruction, and assessment methods to their students. This large, K-12 district embraces the spectrum of low to high SES schools, a large number of gifted students from diverse populations, and a variety of gifted…

The Open University of Catalonia (UOC) was established as public, online university and thus has grown quickly with the global interest in online courses. However, like other dedicated distance-education institutions, UOC has had challenges adapting to MOOCs, and the emergent world of Web 2.0 learning technologies. To meet these challenges, UOC…

Presents and applies a teacher professional-development-oriented analytical framework to provide clarity to the discussion of what role network-based communication may play in teacher professional-development experiences. A table presents a summary of advocacy and adversarial claims in network-based professional development by areas of…

Presents an instructional design framework that stresses the alignment of learning outcomes, learning activities, and evaluation and feedback. Focuses on student learning rather than instructional input; encourages faculty development to enable them to design their own courses; considers course resources, practice activities, and interaction; and…

Presents guidelines for effective distance education planning that confront the issues of planning/organization, technology, and faculty development/academic policies. Concludes that understanding the unique characteristics and constraints of any particular program or target audience is the first step in selecting appropriate distance education…

Discusses several barriers to the use of technology, especially computers, including the state of the art of computer software, lack of teacher knowledge and skills in this area, and most important, the present governing structure that supports the traditional organization of education. (MBR)

Discusses how to counter problems in coupling technical/technological courses with distance learning. Presents a model which incorporates up to nine different technologies (television; student response units; voice mail; electronic mail; fax; CD-ROM; Internet; videotape; and computer) and addresses administrative solutions for delivering such a…

Describes the responsibilities and the role of universities in adequately preparing teachers to use educational technologies. Topics discussed include instructional design and development of technology training; curriculum considerations, including interdisciplinary efforts; the availability of resources; and the role of faculty, including the…

Discusses the use of computer technology by fine arts departments in higher education. Highlights include the need for mission statements to ensure support; the need for faculty development; distance education; case studies that show the use of technology in music theory, student/teacher interaction, orchestras, jazz, and archaeological sites; and…