An increasing number of nations connect their schools on the Internet as an acknowledgment to its extreme importance in the education area. This study points to the perils that arise from its use when the users are minors, evaluates the technologies that are currently available to address filtering issues, and outlines a proposed solution for the…

This document highlights the problems with current federal education program data collection activities and lists several factors that make movement toward a possible solution, then discusses the vision for the Integrated Performance and Benchmarking System (IPBS), a vision of an Internet-based system for harvesting information from states about…

The chat room is currently the most likely candidate to replace the interactivity of the traditional classroom. A study explored the experiences and opinions of adult learners and their instructors on how well the chat room substituted for the traditional classroom, their comfort level with the technology, and whether or not it enhanced the…

The instructional design interactions, practices, and strategies used by three selected instructors teaching distance education courses at Texas A&M University were examined in a case study. Data were collected through unstructured interviews, participant observations, and examination of course documents. The three instructors were selected so…

The two main themes of this conference were the influence of technology on families, and technology and counseling. Many of the papers consider the impact technology is having on individuals and families, and subsequently how it is affecting the counseling profession. This involves new ways of counseling using technological resources, and…

After exploring the pros and cons of using various technologies in secondary schools, as well as the development of an Acceptable Use Policy, this book describes how technology affects the role and interaction of media specialists, teachers, students, administrators, and parents. Technology planning tips are given on methods to research trends,…

Assessment is more than simply ascribing an 'A' or a 'B' to a particular student achievement. In an era of state-mandated proficiencies and alternative assessment strategies, educators need practical ideas they can use to meaningfully assess their students' learning and their own practice. This issue of "ENC Focus" centers on the topic…

This publication is the introductory guide to the Recruiting New Teachers, Inc.'s Toolkit, which is designed to help states and school districts meet their teacher recruitment and retention challenges. The guide provides information on: today's national teacher shortage crisis; how to make a case for stepping up recruitment efforts for diverse…

This issue of "Tap into Learning" continues an exploration of ways computers can support student learning. As in previous issues, a constructivist learning theory is used as a framework for discussion. This issue examines the notion that social interaction plays an important part in the construction of knowledge. Articles include: "Communication:…

In October, 1998, Congress enacted the Child Online Protection Act and established the Commission on Online Child Protection (COPA) to study methods to help reduce access by minors to certain sexually explicit material, defined in the statute as harmful to minors. Congress directed the Commission to evaluate the accessibility, cost, and…

The appendices for the Commission on Child Online Protection (COPA) Report to Congress, October 20, 2000, include the following: Commission overview, which includes scope and timeline, original statute, amended statute, technologies and methods, and biographies of the commissioners; Commission finances; Commission meetings for the year 2000;…

This paper discusses the importance of intellectual freedom for libraries, librarians, and library associations. Examples of attempts at censorship in Australia are presented, including the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Online Services) Act, 1999, legislation that requires filtering of Internet content. The IFLA (International Federation of…

This collection of commissioned papers provides a variety of perspectives on the impact of global information networks. The following articles are included: "The Promise of Global Networks: An Introduction" (Jorge Reina Schement); "Architecture and Expectations: Networks of the World--Unite!" (Marjory S. Blumenthal); "The…

This annotated bibliography presents an overview of journal articles and books on public relations that can be helpful to teachers and students as well as to practitioners and managers. New categories for this 1999 edition of the bibliography include Public Relations Theory, Feminist Issues in Public Relations, and Environmental Public Relations.…

This analysis of the Internet and higher education focuses on two distinct models: one which is attempting to create "better, faster, cheaper" versions of today's courses and curricula through on-campus information infrastructure, and the other which envisions the Internet as the agent to transform higher education into student-centered learning…