Digital text, changes in textbook adoptions, 1-to-1 computing, Common Core standards, the rise in digital learning objects and online curricula, the push for personalized learning--all of these and other factors are part of an ongoing drama in education today that puts the future of curriculum materials very much in play. But thanks to open…

If district technology leaders had a nickel for every time they heard the phrase "the new normal," they'd have all the money they need to run their IT departments. In an effort to help readers think about their budgets in creative and practical ways, "T.H.E. Journal" and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) recently convened a panel of CTOs…

Educators have seen the excitement and focus that students show when using digital devices. In hopes of increasing attendance, reducing dropout rates, and improving learning overall, more and more superintendents are driving their districts toward a 1-to-1 environment in which students take control of their own learning. The question is no longer…

Moving from a traditional desktop computing environment to a virtualized solution is a daunting task. In this article, the author presents case histories of three districts that have made the conversion to virtual computing to learn about their experiences: What prompted them to make the move, and what were their objectives? Which obstacles prove…

Summarizes the results of a study of the adoption/diffusion of Internet- and Web-based telecommunications throughout the Boulder Valley School District (Colorado). Discusses elements of the diffusion process; participatory design of the training program; expansion of communication networks; experimentation and reinvention; collaborative resource…

In an effort to meet local, state, and federal demands for education reform, school leaders are scrambling to identify effective strategies for delivering and reporting on technology professional development and how it impacts school reform. School leaders nationwide are critically evaluating their return on investment as it relates to technology…

Summarizes the steps that administrators and district-level leaders need to implement to ensure equitable, effective and cost-conscious implementation of technology. Highlights include: creating a shared vision; monitoring influences that affect technology use; funding; staff involvement; strategic planning; establishing minimum competencies;…

Discusses the integration of the Internet at Eagan High School (Minnesota). Highlights include the Internet for Minnesota's Schools (InforMNs) Project; connectivity; and using the Internet in specific disciplines, including English (and history, politics, etc.), work experience, foreign language, and business law and science. A sidebar discusses…

Reports on the installation of a local area network (LAN) at East Carolina University. Topics include designing the network; computer labs and electronic mail; Internet connectivity; LAN expenses; and recommendations on planning, equipment, administration, and training. A glossary of networking terms is also provided. (AEF)

Presents the ASSURE (Analyze learners, State objectives, Select media and materials, Utilize media/materials, Require participation, Evaluate and revise) model, an approach for training professional staff on implementing technology in schools. Design and implementation of workshops for school staff are described, and a sidebar outlines a six-day…

Discusses planning for the use of technology in education; explains a planning process model that includes needs assessment, creating and selecting goals, and implementing and evaluating the plan; and describes an application of this model in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District (Pennsylvania). (LRW)