Argues that the real worth of wide-area computer-mediated communications networks in supporting reform and improvement in K-12 education is the opportunity to develop collaborative projects that link educators and students to provide meaningful learning experiences connected to the curriculum and that such projects are essential to make NREN an…

This collection of papers includes both presentations at a two-day conference of the Education Advisory Council at Apple Computer which considered information and insights on the use of telecommunications and networking in education, and papers describing other telecommunications projects that have been identified since the council's meeting.…

Reviews developments in telecommunications applications for education in Western Europe by describing national or regional initiatives for support of telecommunications use by teachers and in schools. Highlights include examples of networks and support services and the role of the Commission of the European Communities. (22 references) (LRW)

Examines developments in networking for K-12 education, including the High Performance Computing Act of 1991, national telecommunications proposals, growing participation in the National Research and Education Network (NREN), state networks, technical issues, and the Consortium for School Networking. Stages toward the goal of developing…

This report, submitted by Representative Ford, of Michigan, from the House Committee on Education and Labor, is intended to accompany H.R. 656. The bill provides for a focused and coordinated federal research program to ensure continued U.S. leadership in high-performance computing through the establishment of a national network of…

Discusses a possible national education computer network that would include elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions. Topics addressed include Internet; common standards; distributed computing; open access; equity concerns; and examples of two successful public school networks in Virginia and Texas that are linked through the…

Discusses the development of a national computer network that would serve the K-12 educational community as well as higher education. The needs of teachers and students are considered, educational equity is discussed, pricing structures are examined, software development is discussed, and future possibilities are explored. (LRW)

The Internet creates a unique opportunity for building virtual professional communities. The Lamda Community Project was created to use the Internet to support science and technology education as part of the Israeli national program to advance science and technology education in Israel. A virtual community was created as a meeting place and…

This book provides an overview and status report on the progress made in developing the National Research and Education Network (NREN) as of early 1991. It reports on a number of investigations that provide a research and policy perspective on the NREN and computer-mediated communication (CMC), and brings together key source documents that have…

Defines the concept of the virtual library, reviews factors in its inception, indicates prerequisites for its success, and explores the implications of the concept for librarianship, with an emphasis on the school library media center. (49 references) (KRN)

A summary is presented of the deliberations of a workshop devoted to the National Research and Education Network (NREN). It also includes policy papers from 18 organizations that broadly represent NREN constituencies in government, education, and industry. The NREN is one of the major components of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991…

Presents the Virtual Reference Desk project, its activities, and a proposed information system architecture to build a human intermediated network of expertise and experience. The project seeks to study, support, and improve current K-12 digital reference services, as well as to build a foundation for a national cooperative digital reference…

This is the second of four working papers on dissemination policies, commissioned in 1993 by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. It is intended to stimulate discussion and the exchange of insights on the government's role in empowering educators to contribute to the evaluation of innovations they use to improve education.…

Focusing on the major educational initiatives of our times--the National Education Goals outlined and endorsed in 1990 by the nation's governors, and President Bush's America 2000 strategy--this report reviews and summarizes information about the role of libraries in many different educational efforts designed to meet the national goals. It is…

This digest highlights the findings of an extensive review and analysis of the literature related to the role of libraries in education. The review was undertaken to demonstrate the critical role libraries can play in meeting the six National Education Goals adopted in 1990 by the President and the governors of the United States. The goals, which…