Explores "electronic meetings" as a way to solicit ideas, creative initiatives, and improved practices from groups for varied purposes in college administration. Groups meet in a conventional meeting room, but each member provides input by computer. Ideas can be projected on screen and refined immediately. The technique allows rapid, anonymous,…

Summarizes recommendations related to technology use within America's elementary and secondary schools, made by the Panel on Educational Technology. Includes: (1) focus on learning with technology; (2) emphasize content and pedagogy; (3) give special attention to professional development; (4) engage in realistic budgeting; (5) ensure equitable,…

Discusses the cost and development of an electronic classroom and ways of paying for it that include the raising of private money from local community groups, private industry, and foundations; and development of partnerships with equipment suppliers as pilot sites. It also explores the use of volunteers to help reduce equipment costs. (GR)

Describes how to design an interactive course for the Internet, using as an example the development of a graduate course entitled Accessing Information through Technology. Course design includes development of a needs assessment, goal analysis, student assessment, instructional strategy, and course evaluation. (SM)

Argues that current multimedia research has experimental design problems. Discusses the "myth" of multimedia benefits, economics of multimedia, and dangers of research errors, and maintains that instructional strategies, not media, improve student achievement. (SM)

Describes a project in which students pick a migratory animal and track it during migration using internet resources. Employs background readings, authentic research data, and questions to experts to enable students to have meaningful learning experiences. (DDR)

Describes how a fourth-year computing elective was introduced at Monash University in 1995 with the goal of allowing students to pursue their own computing interests in a project-based subject. The course demonstrates student-directed learning and the pride resulting from such ownership. Shows how the subject can use a wide range of resources…

Discusses a computer simulation designed as an educational tool for students to observe predator-prey oscillations and experimentally investigate how changes in life histories affect predator and prey densities. Provides hands-on interaction with such theories and with mathematical models. Available to any instructor for curriculum use. (AIM)

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…

The influence of feedback on the cognitive task performance of 30 adults with mental retardation having either high or low self-esteem was assessed. All subjects performed two memory tasks (easy, difficult) under one of three feedback conditions (social, computer, and no feedback). Social feedback was most effective in altering the positive…

Discusses educational uses of the Internet in light of experiences with previous implementation efforts for the use of computers in education. Topics include access problems; identifying educationally relevant uses of the Internet; cost effectiveness; funding; and the role, needs, and influence of the teacher. (LRW)

Describes a multimedia course in engineering developed to serve course materials to students in a more realistic form so that they will better understand the relevance of the material. Defines multimedia, discusses the advantages of multimedia presentation of course material, and provides details of the tools used in this project. (DDR)

Explores the rationale for computer simulations, describes a developmental approach to learning spreadsheet applications, discusses dilemmas posed in teaching and learning through simulations, and presents conclusions about using simulation for teaching school-finance and business courses and for professional growth. (Five references) (LMI)

Presents a synopsis of guidelines on the acceptable use of copyrighted multimedia materials in educational presentations. Outlines four characteristics of fair use. Discusses issues of retention and access, quality limits, number of copies that can be made, and other restrictions. A sidebar includes guidelines to remember when creating multimedia…

Describes a titrator system, constructed from a computer-interfaced pH-meter, that was designed to increase student involvement in the process. Combines automatic data collection with real-time graphical display and interactive controls to focus attention on the process rather than on bits of data. Improves understanding of concepts and…