Addresses the need for careful planning and discernment when adopting new educational technology to ensure gains in student performance and to achieve learning goals. Topics include focusing on philosophical commitments and program purposes; challenging claims; testing; reviewing previous experiences; evaluating; and slowing down the purchase and…

Discusses the relationship between technology and librarianship and suggests questioning new technology, including whether it benefits the user and whether it is accessible, affordable, and cost effective. Considers Google's success, recommends that libraries become more involved in technology development, and includes a sidebar describing new…

Describes how, after a concentrated period of universitywide cooperation and collaboration, Georgetown University's information technology environment has become world-class. (EV)

Cognizant of the difficulty teachers face in attempting to integrate computers into instructional settings, the authors propose a new technology integration assessment strategy that can guide individual development or be used to track programmatic change. The Technology Integration Assessment Instrument (TIAI) explores seven dimensions of planning…

Universities face the challenge of being aware of and responsive to continuous, rapid technological change as it affects the institutional mission. To address this challenge, the University of Washington conducted an institution-wide assessment of educational technology. The purpose of this research was to inform the design of technical tools and…

Computers on wheels, or COWs, combine the wireless technology of today with the audio/visual carts of yesteryear for an entirely new spin on mobility. Increasingly used by districts with laptop computing initiatives, COWs are among the hottest high-tech sellers in schools today, according to market research firm Quality Education Data. In this…

The "Local Technology Plan Guidelines" serve as the basis for the Department's annual technology data collection. This report takes a look at the data submitted by 344 school districts, examining the progress Massachusetts school districts are making in meeting the recommended guidelines. In doing so, it will gauge the degree to which…

This article describes the premises, principles, and processes for integrating TECH into instruction. TECH is an acronym designed for educators to more smoothly integrate technology into instructional activities. It includes four steps: (1) Target the students' needs and the learning outcome; (2) Examine the technology choices, then decide what to…

Federal educational technology grant coordinators from seven small liberal arts colleges were interviewed to determine the ways in which technology had been infused in teacher education programs over the life of the grant. Substantive integration of technology had occurred in each of the schools. Traditional change models were unable to explain…

While it is often argued that technology could act as a change agent and transform educational practices, individuals, communities, government and society holding their own ideological beliefs limit such a liberalisation of the educational system. To show that the use of educational technology is part of a dialectical struggle this article…

Although research studies in education show that use of technology can help student learning, its use is generally affected by certain barriers. In this paper, we first identify the general barriers typically faced by K-12 schools, both in the United States as well as other countries, when integrating technology into the curriculum for…

This book is a guide for educators on planning an educational World Wide Web site. The book contains the following chapters: (1) "Why Create School & Educational Web Sites?" including community connections, partnerships with parents, linking to learners and learning, and engaging educators; (2) "How To Get from Idea to Web Site:…

This paper reviews the efforts of the Idaho Council for Technology in Learning to provide consistent and thorough standards for planning for educational technology, presents keys for meeting those standards, and offers suggestions for using these keys to successfully implement and account for planned technology use in the curriculum. The planning…

This Digest lists a sample of no-cost Internet resources of special interest to K-12 educators. Highlights include: Guides to Internet Resources; Lesson Plans and Teaching Materials; Keypals and Penpals; Acceptable Use Policies; Technology Plans for K-12 Schools; Internet Projects for the Classroom; Grant Information; E-Rate Information; Federal…

Reviews products and services that are resources for staff development for educators. New offerings range from "do-it-yourself" kits to on-site workshops, from product-specific workbooks to Internet sites. The selection process should include costs and how the products and services complement a district's technology plan. (AEF)