Federal legislation authorizing the creation of the National Research and Education Network (NREN)--i.e., the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-194)--was signed into law by the President in December 1991. This network is envisioned as an expansion and enhancement of the existing U.S. Internet, the collection of interconnected…

The present state of the educational use of computer communications networks in Japan is outlined. Computer communication is now growing rapidly in Japanese society as a whole, and its educational community is not an exception. After giving general figures on the use of computers in Japanese education and describing government proposals on…

The teaching materials contained in this teacher's guide provide a framework for teachers in different cultures to engage their students in collaborative projects. The guide is divided into five parts. Part 1 introduces the Global Thinking Project. Three chapters provide an overview of the project, step-by-step procedures on using collaborative…

The use of electronic communication in the 12 Title VI African Studies Centers is discussed, and the networks available for their use are reviewed. It is argued that the African Studies Centers should be on the cutting edge of contemporary electronic communication and that computer networks should be a fundamental aspect of their programs. An…

This paper reviews the components of three critical dimensions that must be considered during the implementation of distance learning processes: essential conditions, educational consensus about teaching and learning, and telecommunications technology capacity. These dimensions lay the foundation that affects future decisions about school…

This proceedings contains the papers presented at SITE 98, the ninth annual international conference of the Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education. Papers are listed under the following headings: "Concepts and Procedures" (18 papers); "Distance Education" (23 papers); "Diversity" (8 papers);…

This paper examines aspects of some World Wide Web-based educational telecomputing projects to illustrate 10 different project Web page functions. These include: (1) giving a project overview or introduction to the goals and operational structure for the project; (2) announcing curriculum-based projects, inviting participation, and providing links…

This project was designed to increase student access by addressing Western states' regulations on higher education programs delivered electronically across state lines, and to develop and get region-wide agreement on basic quality standards for distance education programs. The project achieved agreement on a set of "Principles of Good…

This booklet of lesson plans is designed to be used in the classrooms of teachers in Oklahoma who have completed a 40-hour content-rich training program concerning the integration of technology into the curriculum. Lessons appropriate for Middle School/High School and Elementary School are included. Through the training teachers develop skills to…

The intent of this instructional manual, which is aimed at exploring the literature of a discipline and presented in a self-paced, course segment format applicable to any course content, is to enable college students to conduct computer-based interactive searches through multiple databases. The manual is divided into 10 chapters: (1) Introduction,…

This guide examines how students with mild handicaps can use technology effectively in their learning. The guide focuses on how a teacher adapts classroom lessons for mildly handicapped learners by structuring and organizing lessons, by using options available with the technology, or by choosing programs. The guide focuses on those students who…

Emphasizing the "people" context of the work of librarians in off-campus libraries, this paper argues that intelligent use of technology ought to drive librarians toward a more sophisticated approach to the existing strengths, learning goals, and living and learning style preferences of distance learners as they cope with the stresses of their…

This report presents a synoptic view of the research on the subject of new information technologies that has been supported by Unesco and of research conducted outside Unesco's program. The report attempts to single out the main findings of this body of research and to identify new avenues of investigation and action that may be able to contribute…

The planning and implementing of a rural instructional television fixed service (ITFS) distance education program at California State University-Fresno (CSUF) is described. The three important functions of establishing a distance education program within a learning institution are addressed: telecommunications networking, management…

This paper presents the findings of a study comparing the amount of interactivity generated in three different instructional settings: face-to-face instruction in a television classroom, real time instruction via microwave (two-way interactive video), and audioteleconference instruction supplemented with prerecorded videos. The study was conducted…