Educational reform networks are well-suited to utilizing new technology and institutional arrangements. They are flexible and innovative and can create collaborative environments and develop agendas that grow and change with their participants. Teacher educators participating in these learning networks help recreate the meaning of scholarship…

With the advances in multimedia, classrooms and the supporting infrastructures are undergoing changes. Advances that are taking place in multimedia and computer networking are described. Selected issues are then discussed for taking advantage of these educational technologies to improve instruction and learning. (Author/AEF)

Discusses the use of distance education in rural public schools to improve academic achievement, based on experiences with eight networked school districts in Oklahoma. Addresses problems that were overcome, including discipline, homework, community and teacher acceptance, and lack of interaction with the teacher. (LRW)

This paper provides case studies that report on an ethnographic action research study to investigate the potential of the combination of wireless networking and portable computing at a primary school in Australia. Discusses student research projects, personal Web pages, making digital movies, student evaluations, and results of student interviews.…

Describes the development by the Alexandria Digital Library of a gazetteer (dictionary of geographic names) composed of a Gazetteer Content Standard, a Feature Type Thesaurus, and an operational interactive gazetteer service. Illustrates the use of this tool in a georeferenced digital library and relates progress in working with Federal agencies…

Examines the role that public libraries can play in the Australian government's objective of developing a network literate society. Highlights include an historical perspective; national infrastructures and government agendas; social equity; equitable access and user fees; Internet-related roles and service directions; and implications for further…

Describes benefits of programs where schools provide laptop computers for each student. Topics include results of studies that show positive learning outcomes; funding options; implementation; protecting the equipment; resources for learning about laptop programs; staff training and support; and future possibilities, including the implications of…

Describes the development of an online learning environment for a visually impaired professional. Topics include physical barriers, intellectual barriers, psychological barriers, and technological barriers; selecting appropriate hardware and software; and combining technologies that include personal computers, Web-based resources, network…

The wireless bandwagon is rolling across Mississippi, picking up a fresh load of converts and turning calamity into opportunity. Traditional wired school networks, many of which unraveled during Hurricane Katrina, are giving way to advanced wireless mesh networks that frequently include voice-over-IP (VoIP) capabilities. Vendor funding is helping…

This paper describes the origin and work of an independent research and development facility whose role is to catalyse the development of broadband applications for education. The paper describes how a three pronged approach is helping content developers understand the opportunities and make use of good research and practice in learning to develop…

The new e-learning generation depends on Semantic Web technology to produce learning objects. As the production of these components is very costly, they should be produced and registered once, and reused and adapted in the same context or in other contexts as often as possible. To produce those components, developers should use learning standards…

The development of mobile wireless technologies has generated a considerable amount of excitement among practitioners and academics because it results in shifting the academic environment from traditional settings to mobile learning (m-learning) settings. Increasing numbers of institutions of higher education offer courses using mobile wireless…

An important challenge in the introductory communication networks course in electrical and computer engineering curricula is to integrate emerging topics, such as wireless Internet access and network security, into the already content-intensive course. At the same time it is essential to provide students with experiences in online collaboration,…

While university libraries have a long tradition of preserving scholarship, they are less experienced in the technology-dependent and computer networked environment. By taking advantage of current activities and expertise that exist in various parts of the institution, policies and practices can be linked that will engender long-term…

The provision of public Internet access and related networked services by public libraries is affected by a number of information policy issues. This article analyzes the policy dimensions of Internet connectivity in public libraries in light of the data and findings from a national survey of public libraries conducted by the authors of this…