The first section of the journal covers selected topics of interest in the areas of incidence and services to deaf-visually impaired persons, federal legislation on interpreters and telecommunications, and the educational significance of three levels of hearing loss. (PHR)

Technologies such as telecommunications, the Internet, and computer conferencing and collaboration bring students, teachers, and the community together and enhance the learning environment. Internet and computer-conferencing software (via electronic mail, Web sites, and discussion forums) allows teachers to counsel students individually, deliver…

In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish the Universal Service program to provide financial support for communications services for all K-12 schools/libraries. A Washington telecommunications attorney discusses eligible services and the application process, and offers tips…

Talks about the creation of a Web site that generates news and features related to teens and their concerns in Lakewood, Ohio. Shows how a feasible course in online journalism grew from the original idea. Describes the course. (PA)

Educators can broadcast videoconferences to students in different parts of the world at an affordable cost using geostationary satellites. Describes the design and presentation of videoconferences and outlines steps in their development: budgeting, scheduling, selecting presenters and moderators, choosing production and telecast facilities,…

Describes an online lesson-writing collaborative project between inservice and preservice teachers via e-mail. Results indicated no significant difference between the quality of lessons created by inservice and preservice teams as well as an improvement in the attitudes of preservice teachers about the possibilities of telecommunications for…

Reviews the current state of "one-stop shopping" for telecom services. Discusses regulatory obstacles; administrative problems with single billing; and resistance of telecom providers to change. Concludes that the leading one-stop shopping providers will be individual carriers who offer cost savings. (AEF)

Consultants can help a school district's technology dreams become realities. Or they can turn those dreams into nightmares. Technology consultants are providing services in several areas including technical assistance and staff training. A sidebar offers tips for finding a consultant and steps districts should follow to make the most of what they…

In college and university advancement, prospect research has become streamlined with the Internet. Searchers can enter corporate, foundation, and other sites for up-to-date information on a variety of topics. Several campus development officers have established their own home pages to share information with colleagues. Online addresses for campus,…

Describes the Instructional Media Center (IMC) at South Dakota State University. Highlights include its mission and goals; staff--professional, career service employees and student assistants; four service groups--instructional technologies, media production, instructional telecommunications, and media resources; budget; and successes. (AEF)

Video conferencing uses telecommunications technologies to create an interactive learning environment. Incorporating video conferencing into the classroom takes preparation, and instructors must clarify purpose; make it personal; keep it short and small; prepare students; use a shared screen; plan for interactions; and use effective visuals and…

As Internet 2 takes shape, the university administrators and researchers behind it are taking care to address the political and economic challenges experienced by the original Internet. The new, privatized system will be faster and more powerful, but some fear privatization has shifted the balance of power toward profit-making instead of meeting…

By viewing individual communication services (voice, data, cable) as strategic tools in a communication infrastructure, Boston College (Massachusetts) was able to create an electronic communication environment with superior services at drastically reduced cost. The system provides voice, data, and cable access to every residence hall room,…

Presents results from a study of the status of distance education in community colleges. Discusses the design, support, and administration of telecourses; staffing and teacher training practices; course offerings; and existing assessment and evaluation studies. Addresses criticisms of distance education and cites research results on its…

Reports on research undertaken in a telecommunications management course. Investigates how communication technology can facilitate team learning. Describes a quasi-experiment designed to observe the interaction among the pedagogies of team learning, active learning (the case method), and computer-mediated learning. (PM)