The explosion of Web 2.0 into libraries has left many smaller academic libraries (and other libraries with limited computing resources or support) to work in the cloud using free Web applications. The use of commercial Web hosting is an innovative approach to the problem of inadequate local resources. While the idea of insourcing IT will seem…

Can daily access to laptop computers help students become better writers? Are such programs affordable? Evidence from the Inspired Writing program in Littleton Public Schools, Colorado, USA, provides a resounding yes to both questions. The program employs student netbooks, open-source software, cloud computing, and social media to help students in…

If a school is seeking to incorporate more collaborative approaches to teaching and learning, the design of the learning environment--whether it's a classroom or a more informal space--can be a critical factor in making this transformative move. Technology, in particular, can play a pivotal role in enabling students to work effectively in teams…

The declining cost of computers and wireless networks has made laptop programs more affordable than ever. At the same time, the internet resources available to teachers and students have grown exponentially in the 15 years since web browsers first became practical. As a result of these trends, growing numbers of students nationwide are provided…

In 1996, the Colorado Library Resource Sharing and Information Access Board initiated a project to explore a patron-initiated interlibrary loan (ILL) system utilizing the ACLIN (Access Colorado Library Information Network) infrastructure and interfacing with local catalogs, remote databases, and bibliographic utilities. This report summarizes the…

Discusses the future of libraries in rural areas, the role of the community, and possible effects of changing technology in telecommunications. Topics include a historical background, including the Rural Electrification Administration; networking technology; an example of a Rural Area Network in Colorado; and new roles for libraries and…

Advanced information, communication, computation and collaboration technologies, known as "cyberinfrastructure," have become essential elements for research, education, and innovation in the 21st century. A major challenge confronting the United States today is how to ensure that all colleges and universities, including those that have…

In their 1989 report to the Colorado General Assembly, the Colorado Telecommunications Advisory Commission expressed the widely held belief that regardless of where they live, all Colorodans deserve and can benefit from a statewide telecommunications infrastructure connecting all Colorado schools, libraries, institutions of higher education and…

Reports the results of three statewide studies in Alaska, Colorado, and Pennsylvania, which show that a school library media program with a full-time library media specialist, support staff, and a strong computer network leads to higher student achievement as evidenced on standardized achievement tests. (LRW)

This article on networking and resource sharing in Colorado consists of three parts: ACLIN (The Access Colorado Library and Information Network), a statewide public access library network; library resource sharing other than ACLIN; and statewide networking activities that include higher education, elementary and secondary education, libraries, and…

This collection of reports highlights the status of educational telecommunications in 13 western states during 1991. Topics addressed include distance education initiatives in Alaska; activities by members of the Arizona Education Telecommunications Cooperative, including colleges, public schools, and government agencies; groups active in the…

Technological delivery systems currently available or in use are examined for adaptability by rural schools, especially high schools faced with increasing demands to expand curriculum. This report focuses on the Mid-Continent Regional Educational Laboratory's (McREL's) service area of Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South…

Survey data for the 1996 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Academic Libraries report are organized in tables according to sector (public or private) and by governing board. In addition to statistics for each library, summary figures for boards and sectors are included. FTE (full-time equivalency) Student Enrollment and…

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE), including Access Colorado Library and Information Network (ACLIN) and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, provides state- level guidance and resources for Colorado's local school districts, local and regional libraries, and special populations. Technology is the enabler that offers basic,…

Colorado educators interested in expanding curricular offerings in their elementary and secondary schools and providing staff development programs to their teachers and staff have many tools at their disposal. One of the most popular is the use of distance education and other telecommunications technologies to provide courses and individual…