Calculators can be used in primary schools in a number of situations. They are most beneficial when working with large numbers, dealing with real data that leads to complex calculations, performing repetitive calculations, developing concepts, estimating and checking, problem solving, and looking for patterns and/or relationships. But what if the…

For the thirty-fifth year, the Research and Theory Division of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is sponsoring the publication of these Proceedings. Papers published in this volume were presented at the national AECT Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. The Proceedings of AECT's Convention are published in two…

In the last years, knowledge and learning management have made a significant impact on the IT research community. "Open Source for Knowledge and Learning Management: Strategies Beyond Tools" presents learning and knowledge management from a point of view where the basic tools and applications are provided by open source technologies.…

The National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance produced this major study of the effectiveness of education technology. Mandated by Congress, the report uses scientifically based research methods and control groups to focus on the impact of technology on student academic achievement. Thirty-three districts, 132 schools, and…

Web-based (or online) learning provides an unprecedented flexibility and convenience to both learners and instructors. However, large online classes relying on instructor-centered presentations could tend to isolate many learners. The size of these classes and the wide dispersion of the learners make it challenging for instructors to interact with…

Guidance and verbal directions, usually received in a face-to-face (F2F) classroom, are often conspicuously absent from online courses. Like their peers in traditional classroom settings, students in online classes need clear, concise instructions (Cramer, Collins, Snider, & Fawcett, 2006). Screen capture and recording technologies, such as…

"Instant Messaging" (IM) and "Presence," which is essentially the ability of being able to detect if other users are logged in on the network and send them messages in real time, has become one of the most popular applications of the Internet, causing people to want to stay connected to the Internet for inordinate amounts of…

Open Source Software (OSS) has introduced a new dimension in software community. As the development and use of OSS becomes prominent, the question of its integration in education arises. In this paper, the following practices fundamental to projects and processes in software engineering are examined from an OSS perspective: project management;…

Design Based Research (DBR) is a new and still-emerging approach to research about design, learning, and allied areas. This article reports one designer's experiences within a DBR project. Whereas most reports of DBR focus on the outcomes of the design itself, the current paper offers a hermeneutical perspective by focusing on the personal…

This guide offers a comprehensive outline of computer assisted language learning (CALL) resources, tools, consultants, and graduate programs. Resources include companies, organizations, products, and support services for CALL; tools are the curriculum materials, both commercially and noncommercially available. Consultants listed are Computer…

TestMaker is a project in which computer-based programs are being developed to help educators create tests. The program was designed as an instructional and developmental tool for teacher-education students. TestMaker consists of four modules: Advisement; Test Creation; Student Test; and Presentation Analysis. The Advisement module runs…

Technology is not often a factor in classroom activities because teachers are untrained in its use. In 1990, International Business Machines (IBM) contributed over 30 million dollars' worth of workstations, networking hardware and software, IBM courseware, cash, and training to prompt 144 selected teacher preparation programs to integrate…

Instruction in Scientific Inquiry Skills (ISIS) is part of a seven-year Air Force effort--the Fundamental Skills Training Project--to design, build, evaluate, and transition advanced computer-aided instruction to the education community. This report describes ISIS 2.0 and presents the results of an initial field evaluation of the software during…

Significant improvements in instructional design and in the development of classroom support materials, as well as the blurring of lines separating computer software, computer-interactive videodisc, CD-ROM, and other new technologies, are cited as the rationale for combining three topics covered by separate guidelines published in…

This guide is intended for K-12 educators who are planning to implement videodisc technology into a school's educational curriculum. Teachers need expertise in two areas for the success of interactive video in schools. First, they need to be able to integrate videodisc materials into existing curricula. Second, they need skills for reviewing,…