Investigated Finnish kindergarten teachers' evolving information and communications technology (ICT) capabilities in the construction and use of digital web portfolios. Teacher surveys indicated that access, competence, and motivation in ICT use intertwined during diverse cycles of portfolio development. Teachers had an enormous need for formal…

Examines two components related to faculty adoption of computers on university campuses: change in use patterns and change in attitudes and opinions. Results show that use and attitudes are multidimensional constructs and that changes happen at different rates for different categories of use. Findings suggest that faculty members need adequate…

Better understanding the attitude and behaviors of students using the Internet for school work can provide valuable insight for today's school librarian. The Pew Internet & American Life Project conducted a qualitative study of Internet-using public middle and high school students drawn from across the country ranging from 12 to 17 years of age.…

This paper describes the findings of a qualitative study to examine preservice teacher education students' experiences and reasons for creating digital teaching portfolios. Also, it examines the advantages and disadvantages of creating digital teaching portfolios. Findings indicate that the process of creating digital teaching portfolios was a…

The proliferation of computer software for young children necessitates that early childhood teachers have the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate and select developmentally appropriate software. This article describes the manner in which one university prepares early childhood teacher candidates to analyze software for the young children in…

"Harvard Education Letter" is published bimonthly by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This issue of "Harvard Education Letter" contains the following articles: (1) Confronting the Autism Epidemic: New Expectations for Children with Autism Means a New Role for Public Schools (Kate McKenna); (2) Internet Research 101:…

To support schools as they move into the 21st century, the Massachusetts Department of Education is developing improved systems to collect, analyze, and report data, which will ultimately allow districts to make decisions about instructional practices that will better meet students' needs. Many Massachusetts school districts are using these…

The potential of emotional interaction between human and computer has recently interested researchers in human-computer interaction. The instructional impact of this interaction in learning environments has not been established, however. This study examined the impact of emotion and gender of a pedagogical agent as a learning companion (PAL) on…

According to a January 2007 survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 55 percent of teens (ages 12 to 17) report having created a personal profile online, and an equal number regularly use social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook. Of those, 91 percent use the sites to stay in touch with friends they see frequently. With all…

Over the last 10 years, information technology has been the fastest growing sector in the global economy. Nevertheless, technology and computer-based instruction have not been sufficiently integrated into the curriculum especially at institutions that serve primarily language minority, low income, and first generation, female college populations.…

The purpose of this study was to examine the initiation and implementation of microcomputer technology in the educational environment of N.H. Jones Elementary School (Ocala, Florida) and to assess its impact on teachers. Microcomputer technology was configured as a teacher workstation. A conceptual framework was developed to promote microcomputer…

A mail survey of a random sample of 253 West Virginia teachers elicited information related to subjects' backgrounds, telecommunications skills, access to computer resources, preferences among common telecommunications applications, and preferences among options for learning about telecommunications. Four scales measured computer literacy,…

This book considers a variety of issues relating to the use of portable computers in the school. It is based on the study the Pupil's Learning and Access to Information Technology (PLAIT) in Northern Ireland. The PLAIT project introduced 235 portable computers in 9 schools for use in English, science, and mathematics course. Following an…

Most African countries are presently overburdened by their debts, declining economies, and quality of living as well as abiding struggles for the restoration of democracy. However, they have noted the global revolution in the development and application of computers. Most Africans believe that computers and intensive and relevant education for all…

This discussion of the issues relating to the integration of computer technology into the educational setting is divided into six major sections: (1) Board of Educations' Commitments to Thorough and Continuing Training Programs in the Area of Computer Technology; (2) Educating the Present Superintendents, Business Administrators, and Decision…