Built on the foundation of four years of research and implementation of mobile learning projects (m-learning), this paper provides an overview of the potential of the integration of mobile Web 2.0 tools (based around smartphones) to facilitate social constructivist pedagogies and engage students in tertiary education. Pedagogical affordances of…

This study describes and evaluates a project designed to increase the low reading ability which interferes with the academic growth of the targeted kindergarten, second-, and fifth-grade classes in a suburban Chicago (Illinois) community. The problem of low reading ability is documented through data revealing the number of students who received…

Playing in literacy-enriched, sociodramatic play centers is an important component of children's literacy development; yet due to the limited number of available computers in many low-socioeconomic-status urban schools, occasions for children to playfully explore literacy as it relates to technology are frequently absent in the early childhood…

There are many parallels among hindrances to information technology implementation in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. All three countries face: (1) an increased call for accountability to government at all levels; (2) different ideas on how to assess student progress in technology-rich environments; (3) a "back to…

As educational institutions prepare to meet the challenges of the new millennium, it becomes more apparent that computer-competent students should be graduated to meet the needs of the advances in technology in the workplace. One technology that is readily available is presentation software, which allows the student to generate slides, overheads,…

The student who has an understanding of computers and other modern technologies is becoming important in college and in the workplace. Two California State Universities now require a personal computer for incoming freshmen. Vice President Albert Gore has urged all Americans to get on the information superhighway. Parents can assist their child and…

Rural schools often have difficulty in developing and implementing a 21st century, K-12 technology plan. This report describes one rural school district's (Wayne, Nebraska) successful efforts at technology integration. It discusses the efforts of installing 25 networked computers in the local high school, linking buildings with fiber-optic cables,…

A study assessed the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) community's attitudes regarding the use of database services in general, and LEXIS/NEXIS in particular. The study followed a review of issues relating to database research in CEDA debate. Two surveys were conducted--a mail survey to CEDA programs and a tournament survey of CEDA…

The teaching of history is part of the continuous process of redefining American civilization that lies at the center of what it means to be an American. A major challenge facing teachers of U.S. history is how to strike an appropriate balance between the forces of continuity and change. Much of the concern over history standards and the choice of…

The process of adopting new innovations has been studied for over 30 years, and one of the most popular adoption models is described by Rogers in his book, "Diffusion of Innovations" (Sherry & Gibson, 2002). Much research from a broad variety of disciplines has used the model as a framework. Dooley (1999) and Stuart (2000) mentioned…

Despite the rapid growth of distance learning programs, faculty are often resistant to moving their courses into a distance learning format. This article synthesizes the common sources of concern among resistant faculty as identified in the literature, the mechanisms to bridge those concerns, and evaluates the effectiveness of the administrative…

In the past, fluency has been considered a neglected area of reading instruction, but it is unequivocally an essential component of an effective reading program. For children to develop into confident, fluent readers, they must be exposed to a variety of meaningful strategies that provide plenty of successful reading practice. Teachers that…

Many rural high schools use technology to provide greater opportunities for students, but most rural high schools do not use technology to meet student and teacher needs nearly as often, or as effectively, as they could. A critical need exists for the development of state level policies and programs for all schools, especially targeted to rural…

We describe an initiative under way at Warwick to provide a technical foundation for computer aided learning and computer-assisted assessment tools, which allows a rich dialogue sensitive to individual students' response patterns. The system distinguishes between dialogues for individual problems and the linking of problems. This enables a subject…

This study, conducted in March 2001, surveyed 142 grades 2-4 classroom teachers regarding their use of educational technology. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the importance of providing teachers with the necessary time to investigate, implement, and fully integrate technology into their classrooms. While it is imperative that schools…