This article details some of the many ways to use the Internet in the English-as-a-Second-Language classroom for both students and teachers. The Internet can be used for gathering information for use in class time planning, for finding teacher-related information, and for exchanging information with other teachers. Complete texts of newsletters…

Silverplatter's Electronic Reference Library (ERL) provides wide area network access to its databases using TCP/IP communications and client-server architecture. ERL has two main components: The ERL clients (retrieval interface) and the ERL server (search engines). ERL clients provide patrons with seamless access to multiple databases on multiple…

Since professional development schools (PDSs) emerged in the mid-1980s as a promising approach to improving teacher education and P-12 schooling, information about these institutions has become more abundant and more accessible. Four primary sources of PDS information are discussed in this digest: the ERIC database, electronic resources, fugitive…

This report describes a project conducted for the following purposes: (1) research the new technologies that will be part of the upcoming information boom, popularly referred to as the "information superhighway"; (2) interview technical professionals in the scientific field to find out their feelings and predictions on the technology;…

This report summarizes the findings and presents data from a nationwide survey conducted by the Texas Education Network (TENET) from July 25 to September 30, 1994. In response to a TENET questionnaire, representatives from 46 of the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs reported on the status of telecommunications networks…

Just as a classroom where teacher and students are physically present develops into a community over the course of a semester, classes taught via the Internet become virtual learning communities, communities unbounded by physical space. This paper describes a course on information design that was implemented entirely via the Internet, including…

In this paper, an instructor at Miami University Middletown (Ohio) describes how Authorware (by Macromedia) proved to be a valuable tool in developing interactive computer tutorials for physics instruction. Obstacles to improved instruction that had presented themselves were as follows: (1) some of the students' learning styles were not being…

This publication introduces some Internet sites relevant to adult education and literacy. It begins with some definitions for the Internet. Next, it lists two guides to using the Internet. A listing of listservs includes name, brief description of literacy-related topics covered, and directions for subscribing. The listservs are as follows:…

This paper provides basic information on searching the Internet and describes sites of interest in the area of rural special education. The first section traces the evolution of the Internet through various phases--ARPANET, NSFNET, CERNET, and the beginnings of the World Wide Web--and describes various protocols (methods and tools) developed to…

Eight adult literacy programs in Ohio and two in Minnesota were funded by the Ohio Literacy Resource Center in coordination with the National Institute for Literacy to get connected to and begin to use the Internet in the classroom. The 6-month grant (January-June 1996) supplied money, training, and ongoing technical support. The 10 sites…

This manual provides an instructional overview of Internet resources with student exercises. The work consists of nine chapters: (1) Introduction to the Internet; (2) How to Access the Internet; (3) Electronic Mail; (4) Gopher; (5) File Transfer Protocol-FTP; (6) Newsgroups & Newsreaders; (7) Telnet & TN3270; (8) World Wide Web; and (9)…

The World Wide Web and browsers such as Netscape and Mosaic have simplified access to electronic resources. Today, technical services librarians can share in the wealth of information available on the Web. One of the premier Web sites for acquisitions librarians is AcqWeb, a cousin of the AcqNet listserv. In addition to interesting news items,…

Working in a cooperative team environment across libraries and job classifications, librarians and support staff at the University of California at Irvine (UCI) have mounted several successful web projects, including two versions of the Libraries' home page, a virtual reference collection, and Science Library "ANTswer Machine." UCI's…

In 1996 the Internet evolved into a key information source for voters interested in experiencing an unfiltered view of the political process through the lenses of political parties, news organizations, educational foundations, media outlets, and a host of specialized interest groups (e.g., Common Cause, Sierra Club). This access came in the form…

The language of information technology is discussed, with a focus on accessibility in the information society. The metaphors of information technology as an "information superhighway" or "infobahn" are analyzed; limitations of the "road system" and developments of Internet systems are considered. The concept of…