The United States Naval Academy (USNA) STEM Center for Education and Outreach addresses an urgent Navy and national need for more young people to pursue careers in STEM fields through world-wide outreach to 17,000 students and 900 teachers per year. To achieve this mission, the STEM Center has developed a hands-on and inquiry-based methodology to…

The United States Naval Academy (USNA) STEM Center for Education and Outreach addresses an urgent Navy and national need for more young people to pursue careers in STEM fields through world-wide outreach to 17,000 students and 900 teachers per year. To achieve this mission, the STEM Center has developed a hands-on and inquiry-based methodology to…

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)

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 the use of computer networks and integrated learning systems (ILS) in education. File servers are explained; operating system software is discussed; hardware differences between local area networks (LANS) and integrated learning systems are described; criteria for purchasing ILS are presented; and initial costs are mentioned. (LRW)

Describes the activities of KIDLINK, an international electronic conferencing system that was developed to establish communication between children 10 to 15 years old around the world using the Internet and other computer networks. A list of local KIDLINK contacts in 29 countries is included. (LRW)

Describes the development of K-12 computer networks in the United States and Canada. Discusses a project that used participatory design to introduce Internet classroom activities, and examines the role of school librarians. Findings suggest schools of information science must offer support to schools seeking Internet resources and applications.…

Discusses the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) in education and summarizes three studies that demonstrated the positive effect of electronic networking on elementary and secondary students' reading and writing skills and their interest in meaningful educational activities. Highlights include knowledge construction; collaborative…

Describes activities for elementary and secondary students who participate in AT&T's Learning Network. Topics include learning circles as virtual communities; forming learning circles; planning projects with teachers and students; exchanging work on the projects; creating a final publication as a group; and evaluating the process. (LRW)

Two articles describe ideas for school library media centers interested in promoting space education. The first article explains how to construct an inexpensive simulation of a space shuttle and suggests associated activities. The second presents steps for identifying resources and organizing them into a resources file; relevant information…

Written by practicing teachers about actual instructional computing projects, this book provides information teachers need to integrate instructional technologies into their classrooms. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1, "New Tools for the Classroom: An Introduction to Networked Learning," includes chapters: (1) "Getting Started in a…

Discusses trends in educational software and the effects of new developments on publishers and on the computer industry. Marketing prospects for software are examined, and recent advances are highlighted, including integrated learning systems, skill-based software, software tied to textbooks, networking, and freeware. (LRW)

This book addresses the educational benefits of connecting to the Internet and shows how various educators use Internet features to support their curriculum goals. It is divided into three parts. Part 1, "Inspiration and Innovation," provides an introduction and presents inspirational stories of educational networking projects. Part 2,…

This book, designed for grades four through eight, is a telecommunications resource that reviews and defines essential Internet terms, looks at critical goals of telecommunications, explains the role of the Internet as it relates to the curriculum, and provides teachers and students with a "road map" to electronic information for each of…

This book seeks to direct children to Internet resources that are educational and fun, that spark ideas for projects, or that connect them to people of similar interests. The foreword is by United States Senator Bob Kerrey. The chapters are: (1) "The World of the Internet," which presents brief explanations of a wide range of services…