Describes the Virtual Reality and Education Lab (VREL) established at East Carolina University to study the implications of virtual reality for elementary and secondary education. Highlights include virtual reality software evaluation; hardware evaluation; computer-based curriculum objectives which could use virtual reality; and keeping current…

Presents the vision and accomplishments of Jan Jensen, of Jefferson County Public Schools, Colorado, who was selected as the first "National Library Media Specialist of the Year" by 3M and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). Her suggestions for integrating technology into the curriculum and for winning…

Explains South Dakota's Connecting the Schools project that distributed hardware and software for K-12 schools, as well as provided training; developed the Digital Dakota Network (DDN), a high-speed statewide telecommunications network that provides data and video services to educational and governmental communities and helps with network design;…

Summarizes findings of a project that reviewed eight commercial gradebook programs to determine range of features offered, e.g., menu and group organization, calculations and weighting of grades, error checking and correction, reports and printouts, documentation, and special options. Information on producer, hardware requirements, and cost is…

Considers ways to use electronic books (E-books) to involve students in literature. Highlights include E-book technology; costs; digital content; acquiring versus accessing information in libraries; title availability; storage capacity; sources of E-book content, especially Web sites; downloading software and E-books; sources for current,…

The project-based software, "The Writing Trek," was created to give teachers the tools they need to promote literacy at all grade levels. Lessons include skill-building exercises, an onscreen reference library (writer's handbook, almanac, thesaurus, rhyming dictionary, and lexicon), and advice by leading writers. The design and development process…

Describes the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in elementary and secondary school classrooms to analyze neighborhoods, cities, and regions. Discusses GIS software, databases, graphing data, and spatial analysis, and includes an example of a project for secondary school students investigating the local economy for summer jobs. (LRW)

Discussion of the use of microcomputers for developing tests for paper-and-pencil presentation compares two options: item-bank, or test-generator software, and word processing. Tests and test generators supplied by textbook publishers are described, cost effectiveness is considered, and possible future developments are suggested. (10 references)…

Discusses some of the complexities that educators must address if the potential of educational technology is to be realized. Topics include computers as tools; technology as a curriculum revitalization catalyst; teacher and administrator training; microcomputer limitations; computer literacy definition; computer education program evaluation;…

Reviews approaches using computer-assisted instruction that may be effective strategies to use with at-risk students. Highlights include developing an Individual Educational Plan (IEP); criteria for selecting appropriate educational software; keeping parents informed; the use of multimedia; high standards and performance-based evaluation; and…

Presents eight scenarios that involve copyright issues in media centers. Topics addressed include copying legally and illegally made videotapes; adding off-air tapes to the collection; storing illegally made computer programs; making archival copies of software; supervising student bulletin board systems; possible legal actions; and student…

Educators who do not learn to use computers and the information highway in the classroom may be depriving themselves and their students of opportunities to access information and develop skills. This article describes how K-12 and higher education teachers should approach and use technology for management, collaboration, and conferencing. Software…

Discusses the role of school media specialists in teaching students to navigate information resources available through online systems. Highlights include database searching; use of the Internet; multimedia workstations; integrated learning systems; teaching library skills; authoring software; and teacher utilities. (two references) (LRW)