This action research study developed, explored, and analyzed the use of digital portfolios as a multiperspective ecological assessment method in primary education learning environments in Finland. Participating in the study were kindergarten and primary school teachers who were challenged and encouraged to utilize networking and digital portfolios…

The aims of this project were to explore the challenges faced by Scottish primary teachers in implementing the science and technology aspects of the Environmental Studies guidelines, to illuminate the extent to which any problems might be related to their own understanding of those ideas they were expected to teach, and to assess the extent to…

This paper is a study of computer-mediated intergroup contact within Project I-57, a larger educational technology project conducted during the 1998-99 school year. Participating institutions were five middle and high schools in three distinctive geographic/cultural regions along north-south Illinois highway I-57: the Chicago area, the central…

This 1999 report focuses on how well the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) is positioned to meet future challenges, and what changes are needed for SIAST to continue effectively responding to the needs of Saskatchewan students and the labor market. The review focuses on future trends and developments that are shaping…

This teaching unit is designed to help students in grades 5 to 8 explore the concepts of geometry and algebra in the context of the force of drag. The units in the series have been developed to enhance and enrich mathematics, science, and technology education and to accommodate different teaching and learning styles. Each unit consists of…

This paper discusses the impediments to distance education (DE) programs and the critical value of interaction and dialog in DE learning environments. The types of interaction to be considered when designing a DE program are listed, including interaction to increase learning, to increase participation, to develop communication, to receive…

This handout addresses the definition of assistive technology, how to assess assistive technology needs, and practical and ethical issues surrounding assistive technology. A functional assessment is urged to consider the following issues: (1) the special needs of the student; (2) the student's current abilities; (3) materials and equipment…

The Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in northwest Houston has grown extremely fast. During the 2001-2002 school year, an additional 4,000 students were added. Because of this growth, it was difficult for the district to adopt the state model for guidance and counseling programs. Many counselors followed what was recommended but it was…

Teaching and learning in the traditional classroom continues to evolve in the presence of technological innovation. This paper highlights basic strategies in which the traditional classroom can be modified to involve students more actively in the teaching and learning process. One of the strategies outlined in this paper includes the incorporation…

Rural communities have long experienced an outmigration of talented people to urban areas for better employment opportunities. The traditional rural economic model, especially prevalent in Appalachia and the rural South, involves outside capital promoting industrial development separated from community needs and culture. This, at worst, is…

This paper argues that, as technology changes at an accelerating rate, it is increasingly difficult for technical faculty and institutions to secure and incorporate relevant course content. Currently, companies and schools join in advisory capacities to identify competencies and develop appropriate curricula, a model that has been around since the…

Authoring tools have evolved over the last decade based on technological and pedagogical innovations, from authoring bounded, program-controlled learning systems such as Computer-Based Instruction (CBI) to authoring unbounded, learner-centered environments such as Web-Based Instruction (WBI). This paper discusses the current state of authoring…

During the last decade, United States K-12 schools have approximately tripled their spending on increasingly powerful computers, and have expanded network access and novel computer applications. The number of questions being asked by educators, policymakers, and the general public about the extent to which students are using these educational…

This document provides a checklist for the development of effective instructional Web sites that promote student learning and enable instructors to enact the principles of good teaching. The information presented is valuable for instructors of online courses and faculty members who utilize instructional sites to supplement face-to-face classroom…

Organizational change and technological developments have impacted community college library staffing. Every job description at every level requires some degree of computer expertise. Many libraries have developed new computer-related positions, while other libraries have incorporated these responsibilities into existing staff positions.…