Offers a preliminary assessment of the possibilities and limitations, allures, and dangers, of the World Wide Web for those interested in presenting, teaching, and learning United States history. Reviews Internet search tools, online libraries and archives, and museums and commercial sites. Discusses how to create an online archive. (DSK)

Influences on the development of international distance education are examined, focusing on the trend toward privatization of higher education and anticipated cooperation between media leaders and universities. Factors in the success of such efforts and the response of critics are considered, and the conclusions drawn by a major Australian report…

Describes the development of an electronic book that provides a forum on the history and culture of Native Americans in the Lakota Nation. Illustrates how such multimedia programs can help teachers with multicultural education. Discusses the importance of interactivity and random access in educational technology, collaboration, and the teacher…

Highlights two recent studies in the field of distance education. C.N. Gunawardena and F.J. Zittle found a high degree of variation between learner satisfaction and social presence in a computer-mediated communication environment. J. McDonald and C. Campbell-Gibson study demonstrated that groups meeting in a synchronous computer-mediated course…

The Hilton Central School District, New York, utilized the collective bargaining process to create a financial incentive that would motivate teachers to achieve a baseline level of technological competency. Describes the negotiated agreement, results obtained during the initial year of implementation, and future plans. (MLF)

Examines a hypothetical curriculum development plan for Texas schools, focusing on the integration of technology skills into seventh-grade history, mathematics, language arts, and science, as well as teacher inservice training. A sidebar outlines technology integration activities for Texas history, the stock market, spreadsheets, creative and…

Discusses trade-offs and ramifications of technology use in schools. Cutbacks in proven staples of mental development (arts, music, drama, and physical education) are used to finance technology programs. Youngsters often use educational software for mindless fun. Few advocates consider how extended computer usage affects children's developing…

Addresses the historical origins of the State University of New York and its system of community colleges, particularly its contemporary structure and nature in the areas of funding, governance, faculty, students, and programs. Discusses current issues such as (1) statewide budget problems; (2) the underprepared student; (3) distance learning; and…

The Four Directions Challenge in Technology Project is a collaborative of schools, universities, and organizations engaged in producing culturally resonant curricula for Native-American students. The project avoids content and strategies conflicting with community values; builds on students' background knowledge; and inspires cultural confidence…

With minimal costs, desktop-presentation programs such as PowerPoint can be a first step in introducing computer technology into the college classroom. They offer visual appeal, capacity for organizing notes, animated graphics, more class time for interactive activities, up-to-date information through links to the World Wide Web, and the ability…

A project created tasks and tools to investigate quality and nature of 11- to 14-year-old pupils' reasoning with quantitative and qualitative computer-based modeling tools. Tasks and tools were used in two innovative modes of learning: expressive, where pupils created their own models, and exploratory, where pupils investigated an expert's model.…

Describes a university/elementary school partnership where elementary school teachers were provided with professional support through monthly meetings, instructional support through two inservice workshops, and technical support in part by students (third to fifth grade) trained to serve as technology "experts." Findings indicate increases in…

Describes the introduction of computer-based assessment (CBA) in a first-year module in geographical data analysis, and evaluates student opinion and performance in response to this. Finds that students generally reacted positively and that overall module evaluations improved; student interest and examination performance (based on average test…

Presents a perspective on the growing and evolving nature of distance learning, its history, and the research that informs practice. Explores the development of online distance education and discusses considerations in designing online instruction, including pedagogical concerns, organizational issues, and institutional issues. (AEF)

Defines the six key pressures that have given rise to the emerging enterprise academic-computing imperative. These include the pressure to (1) improve instructional quality; (2) unify disparate academic-computing resources; (3) demonstrate return on network investment; (4) reach more students; (5) lower costs in delivery of instruction; and (6)…