Investigates the effects of two instructional strategies--augmented activation activities vs. expository instruction--and three different presentation formats--microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL), simulation, and computer-based text--on individuals' ability to understand concepts in physics. Indicates significant main effect for presentation…

Discusses peer to peer technology which allows uploading files from one hard drive to another. Topics include the client/server model for education; the Napster client/server model; Gnutella; Freenet and other projects to allow the free exchange of information without censorship; bandwidth problems; copyright issues; metadata; and the United…

Reports on the responses of students using a computer algebra system (CAS) called DERIVE in an introductory calculus course at undergraduate level. Indicates that the use of this technology was a catalyst for students to use three types of learning strategies: (1) regularly using multiple representations, (2) discussing meaning with peers and…

Tailored descriptions of online educational resources can support users searching for educational resources on the World Wide Web (WWW) by helping them to assess for themselves the relevance and suitability of each resource. Suitable descriptions can be derived from the online metadata stored with each resource. The descriptions take into account…

E-books promise to become a widespread delivery mechanism for educational resources. However, current e-books do not take full advantage of the power of computing tools. In particular, interaction with the content is often reduced to navigation through the information. This article investigates how adding interactive visuals to an e-book…

Glen Bull's call for a research agenda for one-to-many computing (page 42 of this issue) raises a larger question: what is the status of a research agenda within education technology? This article first considers what a "research agenda" is in general. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines research as "studious inquiry or examination." (There's…

The use of e-learning environments to support teaching and learning has had great impact on the way content is developed and managed. In most cases, both teachers and students have had to re-adapt the way they prepare, access and engage with educational matter. The adjustment in human mechanisms for organising and interacting with educational…

This article stresses that school administrators need to understand the history of education technology in order to introduce new ideas and learning opportunities to students. Pownell and Bailey (2002) described four predominant waves in the history of education technology: In the 1960s, the first phase included mainframe computers, which allowed…

Higher education leadership must emphasize a collegial approach (an institution-wide, system-wide effort uniting administration, staff, and faculty on a single purpose) to working smarter, not harder, through the effective use of technology. To do that, University presidents must meet five challenges. These five challenges are discussed in this…

The combination of wireless technology and mobile computing is resulting in escalating transformations of the educational world. The question is, how are the wireless, mobile technologies affecting the learning environment, pedagogy, and campus life? To answer this question, the current state of affairs was assessed and the surveying of…

The paper discusses three aspects central to the 10 year-old process of design, development and use of E-slate, a construction kit for educational software. These are: (1) the design of computational media for user empowerment, (2) the socially-grounded approach to the building of user communities and (3) the issue of long-term sustainability as…

Media specialists are now in charge of computers, printers, software programs and every other technological advancement, as technology have become an important aspect of education. The key points to be kept in mind while promoting technology in the media center are stated.

In this article, the author presents Web sites about teen use of online social networks and age-appropriate resources. These resources can be used for teaching students ways in which to use these networks safely and ethically. Among other things, "Social Network Service" entry in Wikipedia, offers a description and a "List of Social Networking…

Introducing Information Communication Technology (ICT) into schools heightens uncertainty due to the complexity and ambiguity of the process. By decomposition, articulation, and rationalization of ICT-based practices, teachers can better integrate it into the classroom; however, as literature deals with teachers' management of ICT integration,…

It is argued that library media specialists should consider technology as integral to their jobs as they do literature and books and use it to create an active learning community. The many ways that technology can be used to enhance student achievement are discussed.