Requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act present school districts with a massive lesson in data-driven decision-making. Technology companies offer data-management tools that organize student information from state tests. Offers districts advice in choosing a technology provider. (MLF)

In 1997, Christine Sorenson reported on the Iowa Distance Education Alliance project that developed an instrument to assess student attitudes about experiences in Iowa Communications Network classrooms. This study evaluates graduate students to determine whether distance education may be more suitable for levels of instruction different from those…

Suggesting a diamond as a visual metaphor for upcoming research in school library media, this article discusses four questions that would occupy the corners. Questions examine contributions of library media programs to student achievement; roles of the library media specialist in today's schools; how students use electronic information resources…

A Portland (Oregon) middle school teacher teaches an ethnobotany class using plants identified in Lewis and Clark's journals. After months of learning about native plants, Native American culture, and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the class culminates in a 3-day canoe trip down the Columbia River. A Lewis and Clark Rediscovery grant provides…

Discusses the value of developing and promoting a natural history library by school library media specialists. Topics include benefits to students; promoting outdoor education; recommended reading for high school students; using technology; and other aids to promote outdoor education. (LRW)

Themes during the 1990s included the bootstrapping effects between oral and literate language, importance of supporting emergent literacy, parallels between oral language impairment and academic failure, and challenges in facilitating language learning. This article addresses questions posed in Part I related to use of computer technology for…

Presented in a question-and-answer format, this article examines family concerns, goals, and expectations related to students' use of assistive technology. A chart shows possible goals, potential positive outcomes, potential negative outcomes, and possible responses of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. Four case studies illustrate…

Discussed is the use of a program called MathCAD which allows students to solve higher order polynomial equations and geometry problems. The use of cooperative learning is emphasized. Included are graphs and part of a printout generated while solving problems with MathCAD. (KR)

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness of six instructional programs with the aim of alleviating the problems encountered by students in visualizing rotation in molecular diagrams. Models were filmed rotating around the three different axes with different speeds with and without shadows. (KR)

Presented in this paper is a model of a preservice teachers' course on the use of computers for science and technology instruction. The main goal of the course is to lead the students to realize the potential offered by the medium for instructional purposes and to develop self-confidence. (Author/KR)

The research library is the focus of a scholarly communication system in crisis. Costs, volume of information, and technological advancement have brought changes that significantly challenge the current library structure. However, technology is not the most important variable; the culture and lifestyle of faculty and students must adapt also. (MSE)

Describes six library projects that won Apple Library of Tomorrow (ALOT) grants for proposed information technology projects. Public library, high school library, university library, and Library of Congress projects are profiled that deal with learning facilities with videodisk, electronic bulletin boards, community outreach projects,…

Older computer applications are often caught in cycles where maintenance and operation become increasingly expensive, yet replacement costs are prohibitive. Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed a strategic approach toward enhancing an existing alumni/fund-raising/gifts system to extend its life and avoid the capital costs associated…

Maintains that the science/technology/society movement (STS) is a megatrend in science education. Explains that STS takes a holistic, problem-solving approach toward teaching science, one that is student oriented and much more accessible than traditional approaches. Lists tables that contrast STS and traditional classes. (DB)

Discusses studies done on science/technology/society (STS) education and lessons that may be drawn for teachers. Maintains that issue investigation and action-based units focusing on locally relevant and student-relevant issues are clearly supported and encouraged by STS research. (DB)