Presents a position paper of the Vermont State Technology Council regarding the development of information technology skills and knowledge. Essential skills are identified and linked to the Vermont Education Goals, including skills in word processing, databases, spreadsheets, telecommunications, visual-audio-output, computer simulations, desktop…

Discusses the planning and installation of a high school local area network. Highlights include suggestions for: defining goals, applying for funding, coordinating installation, teacher training, developing district technology plans, plans for growth, choosing locations, maintenance plans, system security, system backup, and use studies. (JKP)

Compared 320 Italian and U.S. college students' attitudes toward computers, science, and technology by field of study (the humanities, psychology, science, and engineering) and by gender. Attitudes were more positive than negative in both the U.S. and Italian samples, but sociocultural factors produced attitudinal differences. Nationality…

Current issues that are important for the future of information resources management in higher education are presented. They include: integrating planning for information resources within institution-wide strategic planning; reengineering fundamental services; change management; distributed computing support; networking; the changing communication…

The origins and expansion of the University of Michigan Information Technology Division (ITD) partnership with academic units is described. The program, which began with the university's largest academic unit, features distributed computing and support services. Lessons have been learned concerning deans' attitudes about computing technology and…

Comparison of U.S. and Chinese middle school mathematics programs found lower intensity in U.S. schools because of extensive drill, repetition of content, lack of challenging problem solving, lower expectations, and ability grouping. China utilizes challenging problem solving, no repetition, and high expectations and values. (22 references)…

Surveys of mathematics department chairpersons about changes in algebra instructional practices in response to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Curriculum and Evaluation Standards showed wide variation across schools. Contains survey questions on practices in algebra and a bibliography of first-year algebra textbooks. (12…

Tech-prep programs are built on the premise that youth must become involved in the development of a technological society. Several models for integrating tech prep with academic education hold promise. (JOW)

Argues that, because technological change has accelerated greatly, schools must prepare students for forces that will impact their lives and future occupations. Offers 10 precepts of technology for guidance. Includes the nature of technological change, timeliness and cultural fit, irreversible societal change, and slowness of institutions to…

Describes a study that examined the extent and perception of the use of telecourses at U.S. research universities. Research on telecourse utilization in higher education and on innovation is reviewed; and results are reported indicating that use tends to be related to specific institutional factors such as institutional size and ownership. (86…

Discusses the introduction of computer-mediated communications (CMC) in management education and describes the impact of the new technology on the role of the tutor. The role of the moderator in CMC is contrasted with the role of the tutor in learner-controlled, or participative, education; and future directions are suggested. (17 references) (LRW)

The National Library of Portugal undertook a leadership role in the development of the Portuguese Bibliographic database (PORBASE). The National Library defined cataloging standards and circulated them to Portuguese libraries to create a national catalog. PORBASE is a work in progress with ongoing technical projects and collaboration in the…

This overview of several programs, techniques, and approaches related to improving schools and student learning includes brief outlines of restructuring, effective schools, cooperative learning, whole language, technology, multiple intelligences, the Coalition of Essential Schools, the Accelerated Schools Project, the School Development Program,…

This study of an adult with severe mental retardation and severe physical impairments found that the subject learned the cause-and-effect relationship between her voice commands and resultant action controlling environmental devices, differentiated various vocalizations for different environmental actions, and experienced positive affect when she…

Argues that the prevalence of computer searching in the academic library has redefined bibliographic instruction and that hands-on instruction in a computer classroom or laboratory setting addresses student needs better than lecture demonstrations. Calls for librarians to actively seek out hands-on opportunities and to keep communication lines…