This paper reports on the findings of two surveys, one year apart, that examined the experiences and attitudes of teachers in a University of Hong Kong English Centre related to the prospect of a curriculum increasingly mediated through information technology (IT). The responses bear witness to the problems teachers experienced in attempting to…

This study examined how support tools (i.e., prompts that support students to use self-explanation and self-monitoring strategies) facilitate convergent knowledge building processes in a World Wide Web-based virtual university engineering course. A quasi-experimental study was designed. An engineering class of a virtual university was selected as…

This paper draws together current developments in computer-based education (CBE) with concepts from business process re-engineering. Topics discussed include: (1) re-engineering models, including the spectrum of approaches ranging from radical restructuring to evolutionary improvement, the stages of business process re-engineering (BPR), and…

This paper present a model of factors influencing the teaching-learning exchange in adult distance education, focusing on five factors that have primary influence on the teaching-learning exchange: the teacher, the student, the content, the environment, and the learning community. Several techniques are proposed to overcome the limitations of…

This publication summarizes the lessons learned during 2002 in a collaborative project that had two central goals: (1) to assess the current thinking on sustainability and outlays for educational technology (edtech) investments by using as national case studies the cities of Chicago, Cleveland and Milwaukee; and (2) to highlight critical issues…

This guide is intended to provide information to Massachusetts school districts and families regarding the availability of, access to, and payment mechanisms for assistive technology devices and services. The first section answers 13 questions concerning topics such as the difference between an assistive technology device and an assistive…

The New Jersey Department of Education, as part of its goal to modernize its learning environments, has established a Distance Learning Network Aid program. The program supplies funding to school districts to participate in a statewide technological network system designed to support achievement of the state's Core Curriculum Content Standards.…

In 1998, the College of the Canyon's (California) Office of Institutional Development distributed a questionnaire to ascertain the technology training needs of campus personnel. The survey instrument included 49 forced-choice and 2 open-ended questions. Seventy-five staff members and 124 faculty returned the questionnaires. The responses are…

In spring 2001, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges passed a resolution whose aim is to narrow the digital divide among California community college students. The digital divide is defined as the disparity between those who have access to technology and those who do not. The resolution suggests two questions: (1) How has…

These guidelines are designed to help anyone considering the use of open and distance learning for teachers. They answer eight major questions and identify options available to planners and strategies for choosing them. Eight sections include: (1) "What is Wrong With Teacher Education?" (e.g., what it consists of and who the teachers are); (2) "Is…

A Collaborative Learning Environment (CLE) for second year Physiology students, involving timetabled tutorials, a student-friendly learning space, and a variety of computer-based and traditional resources has been previously shown to impact positively on student learning. In the sessions described in this paper, students used a semester-long group…

This document contains the following papers on educational leadership from the SITE (Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education) 2002 conference: (1) "Personality Assessment of Educational Leaders via Technology" (Pamela T. Barber Freeman and Michael L. McFrazier); (2) "Contributions and Concerns of SITE Participants: A Survey of…

The preparation of qualified teachers with knowledge and skills in the areas of English as a Second Language (ESL) and technology is an important issue in urban educational reform. This paper addresses components that one teacher preparation program is implementing in training multicultural, urban public school teachers in this critical shortage…

The distinctions between types of open and distance learning broadly equate to the concept of learning at a time, place, and pace that best suits the learner. Distance learning refers to geography, whereas open learning refers to time. Flexible learning is a generic term referring either to geography or time. Combining these distinctions allows…

Development of online courses requires the use of appropriate educational philosophies that discourage rote learning and passive transfer of information from teacher to learner. This paper reports on the development, use and evaluation of two second year Biology online software packages used by students in constructivist environments. The courses…