Many studies have recently focused on the importance of the effective integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools in science education and the need for science teachers to receive adequate training and support to use them effectively. This paper aims to explore the Albanian science teachers' perceptions and use of ICTs in…

Scientific inscriptions--graphs, diagrams, and data--and argumentation are integral to learning and communicating science and are common elements in cyberlearning environments--those involving the use of networked learning technologies. However, previous research has indicated that learners struggle to use inscriptions and when they engage in…

This research project aimed to understand and explore the ways electronically networked (e-networked) tools can support authentic science inquiry in junior secondary classrooms in order to address concerns about student engagement in science. The research questions for this study were: (1) What are the existing ideas, experiences and visions that…

The "ERIC Review" is published three times a year and announces research results, publications, and new programs relevant to each issue's theme topic. This issue explores computer networking in elementary and secondary schools via two principal articles: "Plugging into the 'Net'" (Michael B. Eisenberg and Donald P. Ely); and…

To attract and retain high-quality teachers, the education system must address science teachers' sense of professional isolation, administrators' lack of receptivity to thoughtful teachers' ideas, egalitarian salary compensation schemes, and lack of professional recognition. An outstanding chemistry teacher-turned-pharmaceutical saleswoman is…

Reviews all netcourses for teachers in mathematics and science, highlights the advantages of netcourses, and discusses the differences between conventional and network-based courses. Uses this analysis to predict the early emergence of netcourses for the professional development of teachers. (12 references) (JRH)

Asynchronous computer-based conferencing offers several unique capabilities as a medium. Participants can read and write messages at whatever time is convenient for them, groups can interact even though participants are geographically separated, and messages are available to readers almost instantly. Because the medium has served for over a decade…

This study is an attempt to determine the extent of telecommunications use by secondary school science teachers in the Queens borough of New York City. Science teachers in 39 middle schools and 32 high schools were surveyed in May, 1994, in the following categories of information: access to computers, hardware preference, hardware in use, access…

Begun in 1989, the LabNetwork is a telecommunications network for secondary science teachers and their students. Summer workshops provide teacher training in the network computer software and teaching methods based on student science projects. The development of a collaborative network-based "community of practice" is described. (SV)

The goal of the Educational Technology Center (ETC) Computer-based Conferencing Project has been to explore the potential of computer-mediated communication to support teachers in collegial exchange about their subject and practice, and to develop recommendations for future applications and management of such conferences. The purposes of this…

The Internet creates a unique opportunity for building virtual professional communities. The Lamda Community Project was created to use the Internet to support science and technology education as part of the Israeli national program to advance science and technology education in Israel. A virtual community was created as a meeting place and…

As a result of survey assessments which suggested a limited supply of science instructional resources in the Northaeastern Kansas area, the INSTEP (Integrative Network for Science Teaching Exploration and Practice) project was developed. Twenty-two 2nd-12th grade teachers from six school districts participated during 7 months of the project. The…

The development and dissemination of science materials can be associated with technical delivery systems such as the Unified Network for Informatics in Teacher Education (UNITE). The UNITE project was designed to investigate ways for using computer networking to improve communications and collaboration among university schools of education and…

Formerly reserved for use by scientists, researchers, and computer buffs, computer networks now have capabilities that make them extremely useful to science teachers and their classes. This digest is designed to provide educators with some basic background on computer communications and to provide a few examples of computer networks that are…

This research project was designed to evaluate the synergistic effects of linking workshops for science teachers with electronic conferencing. The rationale for this study was that these two methods of professional development and communication would have an impact beyond that which either would have alone. Included are the abstract, a description…