This publication focuses on promising new and emerging technologies and what they might mean to the future of K-12 schools. Half of the volume contains articles devoted in some way to "Vision," and articles in the other half are under the heading of "Leadership." Contents in the "Vision" section include: "The…

This study is based on data collected by the Division of Lifelong Learning at Indiana State University, in fall 2002. The data collected was in the form of a survey questionnaire, mailed to students taking distance courses. The main objective of the study was to analyze student preference for the four types of modalities, designed for the delivery…

The writing and art program described in this lesson plan employs scientific observation, descriptive writing, sketching, reading, investigation, and poetry writing to train middle school students to use their senses and focus their attention. During the four 45-minute lessons, students will: make careful observations of natural objects; write…

In the four examples of pedagogic integration of the Internet in a "multimodal" university situation reported in this paper, an innovative process is illustrated whose central objectives were improvement of the quality and relevance of the training strategies provided to students. This paper contributes to the characterization of the…

In the late 1980s, when few Canadian citizens had Internet access, federal departments and agencies in Canada were already preparing for the future by putting information and documentation online. This paper outlines several government-sponsored programs--SchoolNet, the Canadian Investment Fund, Community Access Program, Canada Foundation for…

This study compared the effects of using voice mail (v-mail) to electronic mail (e-mail) over the Internet to provide student feedback using Media Richness Theory (MRT) and Social Presence Theory (SPT) as the theoretical framework. MRT and SPT would predict that v-mail would be perceived as higher than e-mail in media richness and social presence.…

Stanford University law professor Lawrence Lessig asserts that laws concerning copyright and the Internet have a negative impact on the expression and dissemination of ideas and innovation. Unlike other technologies, the Internet's historical design and technical structure produced an environment that was creative, protected, and free--a place in…

Designing instructionally sound Web courses is a difficult task for instructors who lack experience in interaction and Web-based instructional design. Learning theories and instructional strategies can provide course designers with principles and design guidelines associated with effective instruction that can be utilized in the design of…

This document describes the origins of cybermentoring and focuses on projects with elementary and secondary schools throughout the state of Washington. It discusses use of telephone communication, email, web design, and low-end videoconferencing technologies in initial cyberprojects, and recent cyberprojects that have begun to make use of high-end…

A project explored the Internet's potential to teach instrumental music online to students in regional or remote regions of Western Australia. The project was established on the expectation that, at some time in the not-too-distant future, instrumental music tutors located in metropolitan regions may have, in their normal studio practice, a…

As Web-based courses using videos have become popular in recent years, the issue of managing audiovisual aids has become noteworthy. The contents of audiovisual aids may include a lecture, an interview, a featurette, an experiment, etc. The audiovisual aids of Web-based courses are transformed into the streaming format that can make the quality of…

The interactive mechanism of the Internet allows learners to interact with teachers, other learners, and content while it facilitates teachers to interact not only with learners but also with other teachers who teach similar or related courses and conduct online teaching.This study analyzes teaching strategies for planning collaborative learning…

Rural schools face significant challenges in upgrading their technology infrastructures. Rural school districts tend to have older school buildings that have multiple problems and lack climate control, adequate space, and necessary wiring. In rural districts, it may be difficult to find the leadership and expertise needed to provide professional…

This report provides comprehensive data on the level of access by Americans to telephones, computers, and the Internet. It also provides valuable information about where Americans are gaining access and what they are doing with their online connections. These data, from the U.S. Census, provide a factual foundation for key policy initiatives to…

Although most agree that well-planned uses of technology are an essential part of instruction, many teachers at all levels of schooling feel overwhelmed by the technology or left behind by its rapid advance. This brief guide is designed to help novices become literate in the use of basic Internet technologies. It is organized into five chapters.…