Examines instances of "high" literacy, literate thinking, among elementary school students working with common computer software during their normal school day. Seven forms of engagement emerged to categorize students' work, and these were arranged in order of complexity: disengagement, unsystematic engagement, frustrated engagement,…

Describes Apex (Assistant for Preparing Exams), a tool for evaluating student essays based on their content. By comparing an essay and the text of a given course on a semantic basis, the system can measure how well the essay matches the text. Various assessments are presented to the student regarding the topic, outline, and coherence of the essay.…

Concentrates on longer-established efforts made in Wales to use the Internet as a gateway for opportunities for adult learners. Focusing on a Web-based Welsh language program over a 12-month period, this paper empirically examines the role of the Internet in providing effective access procedures to adult learning and examines who such methods are…

This article offers suggestions for using the Internet to stimulate the interest of gifted students in various aspects of American government and the changing of administrations. Ten relevant Web sites are described. (DB)

Examines how the use of server-based courseware development solutions affects the instructional design process when creating online distance education. Highlights include pedagogical, visual interface (e.g., visual metaphor and navigation layout), interaction, and instructional design implications of online courseware. (Contains 54 references.)…

Compared hypermedia and traditional instruction in their contribution to declarative, procedural, and conditional knowledge and retention using a pretest-posttest design. Data from ninth-grade biology students showed no significant difference between the groups in acquisition of declarative, conditional, and procedural knowledge. However, the…

Places current research on children and computers in historical context with earlier research on the mass media, noting recurrent patterns in 20th century media research. Concludes that to inform and sustain the creation of more quality content for children, further research is needed on the effects of media on children, with new partnerships…

Demonstrates the connections among authenticity, technology, and geography by discussing the use of the Internet and a Geographic Information System (GIS). Describes an online community-based project in a three-step process (research a local issue, create a Web site, and submit the site to an online community). (CMK)

Discusses the integration of classes in a generational model for distance education, specifically the G3 model, which focuses on the implementation of a study skills course. Reports that students are presented with online handouts and links to developmental education sites, e-mail and Web-based forums, and audio-video conferences and chat rooms.…

Considers what computers contribute to the work of historians, and of history teachers, that is specific to the nature of computers and cannot be accomplished by other tools available to historians today. Suggests that simulation games and databases be used to reduce the historian's unspoken biases when examining the conditions of historical…

Discusses the apparent failure of information technology (IT) education in preservice teacher education courses. Offers a conceptual framework for investigating and analyzing this failure. Suggests that IT outcomes are likely to be diverse and variable for any one student teacher population and these outcomes need to be considered in the context…

Analysis of the responses of 467 public school speech-language pathologists to a questionnaire concerning computer applications identified the types of hardware available to respondents, factors that respondents felt were important in choosing software, and the type and degree of computer training respondents had. The questionnaire is appended.…

Describes a program where fifth and sixth graders are trained as school technology assistants. The childrens' duties include installation of software, making minor repairs, cleaning computer equipment, and assisting teachers and students. Outlines components of the program, lists forms the assistants use and skills they are taught, and provides…

Suggests that teachers and social context determine what young children acquire from computer experiences. Provides anecdotes of teachers working with children who are using a computer program to complete a picture puzzle. The computer allowed teachers to present a problem, witness children's cognitive capabilities, listen to their metacognitive…

Provides an overview of five earth and space science CD-ROMs and their potential contribution to learning mathematics and science. The software are "Welcome to the Planets"; "GeoMedia 2, Interactive Multimedia CD-ROM on Global Environmental Change"; "Mars Educational Multimedia"; "Redshift Multimedia Astronomy"; and "Expert Astronomer."…