This overview of the computer industry vendors that supply microcomputer hardware to educators for use in kindergarten through high school focuses on Apple, Tandy, Commodore, and IBM. The use of MS-DOS versus the operating system used in Apple computers is discussed, and pricing and service issues are raised. (LRW)

Describes KIDSPHERE, an Internet-based mailing list that was created to further the development of school computer networks. Its role in building a community of educators on the Internet and in furthering the goals of educational reform is discussed; other topics include the value it provides, distribution, and funding. (Author/LRW)

"Teacher Net" is described as a low cost computer network to provide computer assisted and managed instruction. The system consists of one microcomputer, an interface box, and as many as 16 keypads or keyboards for data input. The system can be used for independent student practice, assessment, group instruction, and data management.…

This first in a series of articles on organizing electronic network-based instructional interactions describes and compares macro-organizational elements, strategies, and tactics of three popular electronic networks: the FrEdMail Network, the National Geographic Kids' Network, and the AT&T Learning Network. (Contains five references.) (LRW)

This special section contains dispatches from the school technology frontier and four feature articles. Lars Kongshem shows how a rural Virginia community connects citizens and schools. Donna Harrington-Lueker describes a North Carolina "virtual high school." Richard J. Coley summarizes a study on school technology effectiveness.…

Describes the efforts of a North Carolina high school principal to adapt another school's computer network system to a reading comprehension improvement project in his school. Recounts administrative networking applications at Muskogee (Oklahoma) Public Schools and offers tips for choosing and evaluating computer networks. (MLH)

Since the popularization of networked computing that began in 1993, many excited educators have employed networked computers to improve motivation and learning in the classroom. Computers have also become a focal point for the improvement of instruction through the introduction of teaching methods that better support constructivist learning. While…

Explains site licensing, which grants certain microcomputer software rights to a school or district for a fee. Differences of rights among vendors are discussed, the impact of networking on-site licensing is described, and examples of the benefits of site licensing in public school districts are given. (LRW)

Discusses present and future developments in the educational software industry for elementary and secondary schools. Topics discussed include problems with making software work on a variety of hardware; planning future development; the widespread use of Apple computers; MS-DOS machines; computer networks; and multimedia. (LRW)

Examines activity cycles in long-distance educational electronic networks based on experiences on FrEdMail (a grass-roots microcomputer-based electronic network) to create effective network-based learning activities. Yearly, weekly, daily, and other cycles are described; and cyclical patterns for two types of instructional interactions are…

Describes how the Lawrence Township Public Schools (Lawrenceville, NJ) passed a technology referendum that provided money for classroom computers, networks, and software. Explains how teachers were first provided with laptop computers to allow for teacher training that ensured the success of the classroom technology. (LRW)

Discusses problems with integrated learning systems (ILSs) in the schools, noting they are still an unproven solution to problems in education plagued by many serious limitations. The article recommends dealing with the fundamental problems of the educational system before investing time and money in ILS. (SM)

Discussion of technologically mediated learning focuses on Collaborative Learning Networks, called the learning environment of the future. Traces the effects of the learning paradigm of higher education back to elementary and secondary education, as well as linking it to success in the work environment. (Contains 5 references.) (Author/LRW)

Discusses ways to provide good computer laboratory facilities for elementary and secondary schools. Topics discussed include establishing the computer lab and selecting hardware; types of software; physical layout of the room; printers; networking possibilities; considerations relating to the physical environment; and scheduling methods. (LRW)

Discusses the use of telecommunications in elementary and secondary education and gives examples of classroom activities relating to math and science that use online services such as America Online, CompuServe, and Prodigy; electronic bulletin boards; educational computer networks; electronic mail; and listservs from the Internet. (Contains two…