In this paper the authors describe a novel "Virtual Research Environment" (VRE) based on the Sakai Virtual Collaboration Environment and designed to support education research. This VRE has been used for the past two years by projects of the UK Economic and Social Research Council's Teaching and Learning Research Programme, 10 of which…

The paper reports on the outcomes of a British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTa) funded study which explored the views of teacher trainees and their mentors in two different school subjects on what strategies, interventions and resources had a positive impact on their ability to use ICT effectively in their subject teaching.…

Project Pride was an Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title VII-funded project for Haitian-born students. The project was in its fifth and final year in 1993-94 at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn (New York). Participating students (n=158) received instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL), native language arts (NLA), and the…

This newsletter addresses educational reform related to student use of computers and the development of computer networks in Illinois schools. This educational trend is particularly relevant for improving the educational opportunities of rural students. Both the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Planning Coalition for Educational…

The Homestead Campus of Miami-Dade Community College, in Florida, serves a sparsely populated area with a culturally diverse population including migrant farm workers, prison inmates, and U.S. Air Force personnel. To increase access to college services, the campus focused on implementing a computer-based distance education program as its primary…

While the overall effect of the impact of technology on health, physical education, recreation, and dance education (HPERD) in the areas of research, classroom, teaching, and distance education is not yet fully assessable, the presence of technology in so many different aspects of the profession makes it important to more clearly recognize and…

Higher education is trapped in a time warp -- a pre-Gutenberg era where instructional information is mostly transmitted by word of mouth. New information technologies present a critical challenge which cannot be ignored if higher education is to succeed or even survive. Increasingly diverse college students are beginning to think and act like…

Recent trends in writing skill assessment suggest a movement toward the use of free-response writing tasks and away from the traditional multiple-choice test. A number of national examinations, including major college admissions tests, have included free-response components. Most of the arguments in support of this trend relate to the hypothesized…

As portfolios gain currency as an assessment alternative to report cards and transcripts, many schools are beginning to use them to get a more accurate idea of students' capabilities. The Exhibitions Project at the Coalition of Essential Schools (Brown University) is developing a way to address problems associated with large-scale use of…

Students and faculty at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) are exploring new ways of teaching and learning in master classrooms. Master classrooms are specially equipped classrooms that contain a wide range of computer, media, projection, communication, and control capabilities, including connection to the campus network. Master classrooms…

This proceedings volume contains 77 papers. Subjects addressed include: image processing; new faculty research methods; preinstructional activities for preservice teacher education; computer "window" presentation styles; interface design; stress management instruction; cooperative learning; graphical user interfaces; student attitudes,…

This 11th edition of the High/Scope Buyer's Guide to Children's Software was designed to help teachers, caregivers, and parents make good choices when purchasing software to enhance children's learning. The book consists of an introduction, a chapter on finding the best software, software reviews for 48 different software products. The…

Recognizing the potential benefits information technology can bring to education and, ultimately, California's economy, Senate Bill 600 (Rosenthal) created a task force to address and report on the exigent need for technology in all public schools and public libraries. After 18 months of research and regular meetings, the task force compiled this…

This practicum was designed to address the problem of computer anxiety and minimal computer usage among preservice teachers. An integrated curriculum was designed based on guidelines from the International Society for Technology in Education, in an attempt to require computer use by students for course assignments and instruction. Workshops…

The purpose of this paper is to determine the current status of the Taunton Public School's (Massachusetts) kindergarten to grade eight library program in terms of networking and resource sharing. It uses Diane Kester's model of the three stages of library networking in four key areas--human support, financial support, technological support, and…