Illustrates the possibilities and educational benefits of virtual learning environments (VLEs), based on experiences with "Thirst for Knowledge," a VLE that simulates the workplace of a major company. While working in this virtual office world, students walk through the building, attend meetings, read reports, receive e-mail, answer the telephone,…

Includes reports from three schools that investigated some of the key elements that contribute to a successful technology-rich learning environment in elementary and secondary education. Highlights include funding; curriculum integration; technology literacy; teacher training; community involvement and partnerships; collaborative, real-world…

Examines the study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in which 13 countries prepared 23 case studies of innovations in science, mathematics, and technology. Focuses on the various changes in subject matter due to reform, such as the practicality of science and mathematics, technology as a subject, and assessment…

Describes a University of Kentucky program in advanced general dentistry offered by compressed video and computer in remote areas of the state. Topics discussed include program development, the technology, instructional design principles used, student recruitment, program evaluation, student evaluation, faculty evaluation, laboratory exercises,…

Describes a partnership between university education faculty and an urban public alternative high school. University faculty worked closely with teachers and students to increase students' chances of graduating. The research-based program was based on effective schools research and instructional best practices. The program resulted in real…

Describes study of carpenters and auto mechanics in Istanbul, Turkey, who received their training on the job. States that the workers were migrants with a primary school education, that they started working at 12-13 years old, and that they are generally satisfied with the training they received. (Contains 19 references.) (NB)

The history of rural special education delivery and teacher education in Appalachia over the last four decades is traced. Much progress has been made, but rural regions still have a shortage of special education teacher educators, certified personnel, employment opportunities for students with disabilities, and distance education capabilities. A…

Discusses the role of administrators and media specialists in the successful use of technology in schools and explains the TSSA (Technology Standards for School Administrators) project. Topics include hardware needs; applications, including software and Internet connectivity; teachers' technology use; and professional development for staff,…

Baby boomers are epitomised by the phrase "wanting it now". This large group of the population is better educated, more technologically literate, generally wealthier than any previous generation and has high expectations of quality services and products. Just as they have led other social revolutions, baby boomers are expected to revolutionise the…

This is the final article in a series examining globalisation and the role of Australian librarians in internationalising library, university, and international practice in higher education. It describes case studies of Australian academic libraries in which a successful pattern for internationalisation emerged. The conclusions of the research are…

The particulate nature of matter is identified in science education standards as one of the fundamental concepts that students should understand at the middle school level. However, science education research in indicates that secondary school students have difficulties understanding the structure of matter. The purpose of the study is to describe…

This study examines one NSF-funded Collaborative for Excellence in Teacher Preparation and describes the complexities of such a science education reform effort. A theoretical model based in community, culture, and identity is used to address key questions: How did institutional ideologies, structures, policies, and practices influence the…

Large-scale assessment programs rely on teachers to administer the tests and to interpret and communicate the results. Consequently, it is important that teachers have up-to-date knowledge about the testing programs. Education Departments' web sites are ideal tools for communicating such information to teachers. The web sites of Education…

Holding the premise that the development of expertise is a continuous process, this study concerns expert models and modeling processes associated with a modeling tool called Model-It. Five advanced Ph.D. students in environmental engineering and public health used Model-It to create and test models of water quality. Using "think aloud" technique…

There is no doubt that the Internet has made a profound effect on everyone's lives. It has also begun to liberate education from the confines of traditional time and space. The first incarnation of what everyone think of as K-12 virtual school appears to have been launched in the summer of 1995, with the CyberSchool Project in Eugene, Oregon.…