Many postgraduate students cannot cope with the demands of higher education. In South Africa one in every six students never graduates. Poor preparation for higher education includes students' meager computer and information literacy skills. While computer literacy refers to understanding the use of computers, McMillan (1996) promotes the term…

The development of digital information literacy (DIL) has been slow in comparison to changes in information communication technologies, and this remains an issue for the higher education sector. Competency in such skills is essential to full participation in society and work. In addition, these skills are regarded as underpinning the ability to…

Last year, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) worked to develop and improve teacher skills in the area of educational technology by creating technology performance profiles for teacher preparation. These standards were given to a group of Pennsylvania State University instructional systems graduate students who developed…

This needs assessment investigated current and optimal levels of information literacy among faculty members at South Georgia College (SGC). Each faculty member was asked to complete a 10-question closed-ended survey to determine the overall information literacy of SGC's faculty based upon qualitative analysis. Then, six faculty members, two from…

The development of the "information society" or "information age" creates a global context for instruction in information skills. Ensuring that students have skill in handling, understanding, and producing information is increasingly considered a vital educational goal. This paper reviews the literature on information literacy,…

Provides Internet connections related to feature stories in this issue. Gives search tips to use on the Internet, lists Net addresses where additional information on feature article topics can be found, and briefly discusses resources given. Topics include the solar system, children's literature, phonics and whole language, and writing. (ET)

Examines the ability of third grade students to meet technology standards. Results from this classroom-based investigation strongly suggest that students in this classroom are making good progress toward meeting technology competencies for Grades three through five as specified in the ISTE (2000) NETS for Students. Moreover, students have met the…

This article focuses on the challenge of educators in keeping up with an information environment that has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. Thus, it is crucial that when teaching literacy to students, educators emphasize skills that reflect the information environment of the present, not the past. With the information age comes a whole…

To examine the effects of introducing portable computers into secondary schools, a study was conducted regarding information technology skills and attitudes of staff and eighth grade students prior to and after receiving individual portable computers. Knowledge and use of word processing, spreadsheets, and database applications increased for both…

At no time in history has the ability to locate, organize, evaluate, manage and use information, skills collectively referred to as information literacy, been more important to today's learners. Classroom and technology teachers and library media specialists are challenged to find effective, innovative techniques for teaching research and…

This report provides guidelines for establishing a long-term technology plan for education, applicable to schools in all states. Advanced and emerging telecommunications and computer technologies have resulted in an ever increasing need for teachers and students to develop information processing and lifelong learning skills for gathering and…

Naturalistic observation and questioning of children grades 1-6 in school library media centers investigated their intentions, purposes, search terms, strategies, successes, and breakdowns in accessing fiction through Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs). Presents a framework of perspectives (individual, social cultural, task, time and timing) to…

This notebook is a compilation of 51 lesson plans for grades K-6 written by various authors and focusing on the integration of technology into the curriculum. Lesson plans include topics such as online versus traditional card catalog, exploring the technology in the media center, electronic encyclopedias and CD- ROMs, using and producing a video…

This workbook, intended for self-guided instruction or classroom use, teaches students how to navigate the Internet with a critical mind. It offers tips on web searching, looking for reputable sources, identifying bias, manipulative reasoning, propaganda, irrelevant and misleading information, checking for accuracy and timeliness of information,…

This notebook is a compilation of 53 lesson plans for grades 6-12, written by various authors and focusing on the integration of technology into the curriculum. Lesson plans include topics such as online catalog searching, electronic encyclopedias, CD-ROM databases, exploring the Internet, creating a computer slide show, desktop publishing, and…