This paper discusses the changing role of teachers and students working on the World Wide Web and outlines the following eight characteristics and associated descriptors of the engaged learning model: (1) vision of learning (responsible, strategic, energized, collaborative); (2) tasks (authentic, challenging, multidisciplinary); (3) assessment…

This evaluation progress report for the budget period October 1 1996-September 30, 1997 describes the Connections Project within the Seward, Nebraska, public schools. The project provided four major activities to help Nebraska middle and high school teachers, mentors, and community members enhance student learning through integrated curricula…

This annual report for budget year October 1, 1997-September 30, 1998 describes year 2 of the Connections Project within the Seward, Nebraska public schools. This project (a technology challenge grant) provided four major activities to help Nebraska middle and high school teachers, mentors, and community members enhance student learning through…

These conference papers highlight technology within 21st century teacher education. Part 1, "The Power, Ethical, and Social Issues Related to Technology in Education," includes topics like developing learning communities and ensuring equal access for all students. Part 2, "The Impact of Technology in Changing Our Perceptions of What…

Instructional design (ID) case studies that pose authentic ill-defined design problems in realistic environments can help instructional design students bridge the gap between novice and expert practice. Over the past 3 years, the authors have explored aspects of this educational approach through the development of World Wide Web-based…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the process used by learners to direct, locate, and integrate information resources for use in a project-based environment. Four cases (n=9, including three group projects and one individual project) were analyzed from an introductory educational technology course for preservice teachers during a unit…

This exploratory study examined a field-based project in which preservice teacher candidates and faculty collaborated to implement a problem-centered, technology integrated curriculum for a multiage (4th, 5th, and 6th grade) intersession at Timber Lane Elementary School. Content included detective skills such as fingerprinting and handwriting…

School principals are called to be lifelong learners. The advancements of technology require school leaders to participate in ongoing education to remain skilled in and informed about technology usage. This article first provides a literature review, discussing the need for continuing education in technology for school administrators as lifelong…

This paper presents the results of a 1997-98 Goals 2000 Preservice Teacher Education Grant that created a partnership between the State University of New York at Oswego and two local elementary schools. The program was designed to provide preservice teachers in elementary education and special education methods classes the opportunity to observe…

There is a great need for increased competency at technology integration by public school teachers. Among the best ways to encourage assimilation of those skills by pre-service teachers is to model the effective use of technology in both college and clinical classrooms. Pre-service teachers (n=410) were surveyed to determine to what degree their…

This booklet shares what South Carolina teachers said during Teacher Talk, a series of regional dialogue sessions between teachers and the State Superintendent of Education in 1997. Teachers from all levels and disciplines participated in the meetings. Teachers identified learning activities that were highly effective for students, worked in small…

This study identifies 24 benchmarks considered essential to ensuring excellence in Internet-based distance learning, as used by the following six institutions which are leaders in distance education: Brevard Community College (Florida); Regents College (New York); University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of Maryland University…

"Theoretical Foundations of Learning Environments" describes the most contemporary psychological and pedagogical theories that are foundations for the conception and design of open-ended learning environments and new applications of educational technologies. In the past decade, the cognitive revolution of the 60s and 70s has been…

During the period when the economic depression was most serious having the effect upon schools, the Office of Education presented relevant data in a number of different publications. This chapter of the Biennial Survey of Education reviews the most significant findings in those publications and draws them together as a permanent report of some of…

Evaluated effectiveness of a multiage learning project in terms of an assessment of classroom quality, and teacher concerns about multiage grouping and computer use in the classroom. Found that participating teachers modified their classrooms to make them more developmentally appropriate, and they increased their use of computers for their own…