"Alabama Education News" is published monthly except for June, July, and December by the Alabama Department of Education. This publication, authorized by Section 16-2-4 of the "Code of Alabama", as recompiled in 1975, is a public service of the Alabama Department of Education designed to inform citizens and educators about…

The 68th Annual Meeting of the Association for Continuing Higher Education was themed "Continuing Education: Making a Difference." The conference sessions explored continuing education's ability to transform lives, communities, and institutions while producing a strong return on investment. Speakers reflected on continuing education's…

Over the last three years the Government strategy on ICT in education has been refocused on getting ICT embedded in subject teaching. The DfES has been working closely with subject professional associations such as ATM and the Mathematical Association (MA) to help with this objective. In November 2004, the Department's ICT in Schools Division (now…

Using Milton's "Paradise Lost" as metaphor, this article examines shifting positions of authority, and the role of technology, in higher education practice. As higher education becomes caught up in the performative agendas of globalised market rationalism, technology is mobilised in a specific way which sits uncomfortably with…

This study explored online instructors' perceptions of their implementation of Chickering and Gamson's Seven Principles and the factors that influenced instructors' implementations. Results reveal that endorsement of the seven principles by online instructors varied significantly from one principle to another. The least-endorsed of the principles…

This study investigated the performance of 13 graduate students' collaborative efforts toward a group research project in an Instructional Analysis, Design, and Evaluation online course. Gaps between course expectations from the instructor and student collaborative performance were identified through the review of the team agreement, the use of…

Blended learning is a promising model for supporting teacher professional development that combines the advantages of traditional face-to-face interaction with the flexibility of online learning. In this study, we examine the impact of two one-year blended learning programs on teachers' attitudes, knowledge, and classroom practices. These…

Health professionals are attracted to the flexibility of the virtual classroom for their on-going education. Recent studies have documented the differences in pedagogy between Internet based learning online and the traditional classroom setting, but few have investigated student health professionals' transitional process while engaged in online…

This paper describes the application of a mixed-evaluation method, published elsewhere, to three different learning scenarios. The method defines how to combine social network analysis with qualitative and quantitative analysis in order to study participatory aspects of learning in CSCL contexts. The three case studies include a course-long,…

This article examines the relationship between the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and learning and teaching, particularly in distance education contexts. We argue that environmental changes (societal, educational, and technological) make it necessary to adapt systems and practices that are no longer appropriate. The need…

In this paper, ULearn (University of Surrey learning on-line) and e-learning techniques are used to enhance the students' understanding and participation in Dynamics modules for an undergraduate programme in the School of Engineering, University of Surrey. The Dynamics modules are taught at Levels 2 and 3 and contain several mechanisms and…

Student teaching is a challenging period for preservice teachers as they make the transition from preparation to practice. Support from mentor teachers and university personnel can make this time easier, helping preservice teachers successfully integrate educational theory into their practice. Because of logistical, financial, and personnel…

This symposium presentation comprises five papers about the efforts of a consortium of three Iowa liberal arts colleges (Clarke College, Loras College, and the University of Dubuque) to develop a critical social perspective in its teacher preparation curriculum. An introduction by Michael Vavrus defines critical social perspective as a critical…

This paper describes how rural school districts can use educational technology to evolve into learning communities that meet the learning needs of all community members. The story of a fictitious small rural school district illustrates how the role of education can be expanded through technology. The superintendent developed a distance education…

The widespread use of Information Technology (IT) in a college or university setting represents a significant change from traditional ways in which higher education has been conducted. Technological change has repercussions throughout the many dimensions of institutional life. This paper explores the impact of information technology on the…