Presents and applies a teacher professional-development-oriented analytical framework to provide clarity to the discussion of what role network-based communication may play in teacher professional-development experiences. A table presents a summary of advocacy and adversarial claims in network-based professional development by areas of…

Presents results from two computer-based knowledge-mapping studies developed by the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST): in one, middle and high school students constructed group maps while collaborating over a network, and in the second, students constructed individual maps while searching the Web.…

Examines issues concerning collaborative assessment of adult learners' formal coursework in a networked learning context. Considers how to make assessment a learning event in the context of lifelong learning, especially in the field of continuing professional development. (LRW)

Discusses the variety of performance measures available for information retrieval systems, search engines, and network filtering agents. Considers how measures of performance at a point in a search can be formally compared, develops criteria related to document orderings, and discusses equivalent ordering and precision and recall. (Author/LRW)

Describes streaming media, an audio/video presentation that is delivered across a network so that it is viewed while being downloaded onto the user's computer, including a continuous stream of video that can be pre-recorded or live. Discusses its use for nontraditional students in higher education and reports on implementation experiences. (LRW)

According to Thomas Stewart's book, intellectual capital comprises three broad categories: human, structural, and customer. Structural, or organizational capital, is knowledge that does not leave at night (with workers, or human capital). Developing a "best practices" database using Lotus Notes software would preserve and access schools'…

Presents results of informal research on smart homes and appliances, structured home wiring, whole-house audio/video distribution, hybrid cable, and wireless networks. Computer network wiring is tricky to install unless all-in-one jacketed cable is used. Wireless phones help installers avoid pre-wiring problems in homes and schools. (MLH)

Discusses the controversy surrounding the existence of a culture created by those who use computers; some argue that computers lack emotional contact and that computer-mediated communication does not have the commonality to form a culture. Analyzes transcripts collected through a synchronous computer system, and argues that cultures are both…

Describes PRONET (PROcedural NETworks), an integrated exploratory sequential data analysis technique that uses Pathfinder network scaling to highlight frequently occurring transitions among user, system, and environmental events. Illustrates the success and limitations of the method through two case studies. Thirteen figures highlight protocols of…

Identifies a working set of standards by which to assess individual digital reference services (Internet-based human-mediated information services) and to define membership within a collaborative network of digital reference services. The standards are designed for the Virtual Reference Desk AskA Consortium. (Author/LRW)

Points out the lack of standards and benchmarks guides for college science teaching. Questions whether it is necessary to attempt to establish national science standards for college science teaching and considers professional development, motivation, and teaching strategies. Recommends teacher preparation experience for college science faculty.…

Reports on results of 2-year study of educational use of technology at 2 San Francisco Bay Area high schools. Finds little impact on students' school experience. Discusses several reasons for this finding: Traditional school structures, time constraints, and competing educational priorities. (Contains 10 references.) (PKP)

Describes university courses and programs in protecting computer networks and World Wide Web sites from vandals, cyberterrorists, and malicious hackers. Notes such courses are provided by East Stroudsburg University (Pennsylvania), Purdue University (Indiana), George Mason University (Virginia), and Texas A&M University. Also notes the federal…

This study seeks a practical understanding of the business, organizational, and technical components of and implementation guidelines needed to effectively deploy extranets. It aims to establish a basic conceptual framework for understanding extranet implementation guidelines. Provides a specific case using VF Playwear, Inc.'s HealthTexbtob.com, a…

Describes how the University of the South Pacific has created a satellite-based computer network aimed at greatly expanding its offerings to students on remote islands. (EV)