This document presents summaries of conference presentations which attempted to assess how computer and communications technologies can be harnessed to meet the special needs of elderly people. Each of the eight sessions of the conference opened with experts discussing their respective research projects and electronic technologies: their origins,…

Despite a real sense of need, the development and application of technology for the elderly has progressed very slowly. This report explores reasons for this slow progress; examines how the process can be moved along; looks at what must be known about aging and the future to assure appropriate technological application; considers how to translate…

Traditionally, educational technologists have not been concerned with social or philosophical questions, and the field does not have a basic educational philosophy. Instead, it is dominated by a viewpoint characterized as "technical rationality" or "technicism"; the most important assumption of this viewpoint is that science…

At the present time the social sciences implicitly or explicitly start from a normative vision which has a dialectical objective: a reasoning that is at once theoretical and practical, or that is both a political and a scientific discourse. A focus on Jurgen Habermas' theory of communicative action provides possibilities of shifting the frontier…

The computational problem-solving mode of thought that has become widespread since the computer revolution has two aspects. The first aspect is the organization of one's view of the world into "context-free" terms and uniform relations between these terms. The relations that are to hold among these terms are taken to be standardized, and…

In October, 1986, The World Health Organization's regional offices for Europe and the Americas held a joint symposium attended by over 40 participants from North and South America and Europe, including obstetricians, pediatricians, health administrators, sociologists, psychologists, economists, epidemiologists, medical journalists, and service…

This paper argues that it is time to think differently about assessing the role of educational technology in the teaching and learning process. The first section addresses the question, "What is learning?" The second section examines the purpose of education. The third section discusses the knowledge base needed to apply educational…

Discusses the George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF), which was founded to explore how computers, telecommunications, and multimedia technologies can be used to help revitalize education. Describes their documentary film, "Learn and Live," that shows how innovative teaching combined with effective uses of technology is creating…

Discussion of current issues in early childhood education focuses on developmentally appropriate uses of computer-based materials and techniques. Highlights include research on appropriate practice; computers and cognitive development; rationale for using technology; the computing environment; and an annotated bibliography of pertinent Internet…

Three case studies of Third World development illustrate the usefulness of qualitative research methods such as CIPP (Context, Input, Process, Product), oneshot interviews, and grounded theory. Adjusting technology to people and cultures rather than changing people to fit technology is advocated. (SK)

Interviews with Thai and Indonesian educators indicate that educational experts from other countries require a wide range of personal and professional qualities to be effective (e.g., the ability to establish/maintain good relations with people, good organizational and language skills, and expertise in technical, cultural, and educational areas).…

Defines advanced Web-based distance learning (WBDL); examines some of its benefits, including cost effectiveness, asynchronous training, simple evaluation, and effective use of time; offers suggestions for appropriate applications of WBDL; and describes ways organizations are beginning to use WBDL, including training clients and continuing…

Discussion of the use of technology in classrooms focuses on a funding model that relies on acquiring the technology used for special education students to benefit all students. Describes one example, the sound field system, which is used for hearing-impaired students but is helpful to all students in a classroom. (LRW)

Discusses the use of minimum levels of technology, or technological minimalism, for Web-based multimedia course content. Highlights include cost effectiveness; problems with video streaming, the use of XML for Web pages, and Flash and Java applets; listservs instead of proprietary software; and proper faculty training. (LRW)

Technology is influencing the evolution of adventure and outdoor education. Technology can negate adventure by dispelling the need of skill and mastery for attainment and by fostering a consumer mentality. Technology can enhance adventure by creating new experiences and suggesting that more is now possible. The challenge is to embody appropriate…