Enumerates the challenges of adopting information technology (IT)-based teaching and learning strategies in higher education. Concerns addressed include whether IT should supplant rather than augment traditional teaching methods, the financing of IT acquisition, change of teaching and learning processes to increase productivity per person, and…

Educational technology should be a tool used for learning but should not become more important than the learning itself. Six criteria for the effective classroom use of technology include determining whether the technology offers an invitation to learn, decentralization of authority, flexibility, access to knowledge, time to explore and use…

Provides advice and suggestions for educators or parents who are trying to decide what type of computer to buy to run the latest computer software for children. Suggests that purchasers should buy a computer with as large a hard drive as possible, at least 10 megabytes of RAM, and a CD-ROM drive. (MDM)

Alerts educators to potentially objectionable Internet materials. Electronic mail, newsgroups, file transfer protocol sites, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Multiuser Dungeons (MUDs), and Multiuser Object Oriented (MOOs) are services whose user anonymity can embolden discussions regarding sex, prejudice, religious dogma, and gambling. Teachers may wish…

By employing a new system perspective, the uses of technology in three school districts are examined. Problems with lack of equipment, professional development, and funding in New York City and San Diego (CA) schools are discussed. The experiences of the Iowa City School District illustrate that growth of the human and work-process infrastructure…

The Internet offers high schools access to a variety of up-to-date information on any subject and the ability to communicate worldwide. Discussion includes electronic mail; Telnet, Gopher, and Veronica; the World Wide Web; types of Internet connections; and problems with Internet use. (AEF)

Surveyed service providers from 31 states and the District of Columbia concerning demographics and their training and knowledge of assistive technology, perceived responsibility for computer access and training, and assessment of computer accessibility on their campuses. Implications of the results for service providers, students with…

A high school and a university teacher converse via e-mail concerning their cooperative project in electronic literacy. The conversation highlights the frustrations of system crashes, student successes and failures, and the beginning of one teacher's dissertation. References to technology include experiences with e-mail, an LCD panel, and closed…

Describes how the Muskoka Board of Education in Bracebridge, Ontario, revised its purchasing and budget-management system to coincide with its new site-based management policy. The district developed individual school budgets, established an online computing network, and acquired software that permitted remote-site entry. (LMI)

Presents a series of questions to help rural school administrators assess their readiness to include distance learning as part of the instructional program. The questions address program need or purpose, school resources (human, facilities, and equipment), and selection of distance learning technology system. Lists brief explanations of common…

High school biology students (n=261) completed 1 of 4 versions of the hypermedia courseware, "The Ecology and History of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park." Analysis failed to detect any statistically significant differences in achievement among the four groups, but did detect a significant difference among student ability levels. Supports…

A discussion of current uses of technology in campus activities programming looks at what is meant by "new technology"; the range of uses of technology in this field; the role and impact of the interactive aspects of information technology; how technology affects how professionals educate, advise, and train students; and dealing with students who…

Analyzes the nature of computer misuse. Addresses issues that deal with managing and controlling computer misuse that will help in developing ethical practices to minimize computer misuse. Argues that by addressing ethical issues at both formal and informal levels, the risks associated with information technology usage can be minimized.…

Details an exercise for social, personality, and introductory psychology classes in which students form implicit personality theories based on information provided by social psychologists on their Internet pages, and then create a personal home page presenting the information and their analyses. Reports students' reactions to the project are…

Describes the demonstration of DYASIM, a program that performs various statistical computations to assess the degree of similarity of dyadic data, in classroom settings to illustrate the conceptual difficulties associated with measuring dyadic similarity. Presents the demonstration within the context of the similarity-complimentarity debate on…