Considers educational technology's role in designing effective instruction. Instructional design that supports systematic determination of instructional goals and methods for accomplishing those goals and for assessing success requires consideration of four variables associated with instruction: (1) learner characteristics; (2) learning task; (3)…

Examines studies relating to two aspects of children's use of electronic information media: (1) access to print information through online (or card) catalogs and databases; and (2) direct access to information in electronic format. Gender differences are discussed, and implications of the studies for software development and equality of computer…

Reports on a study of the writing skills of 51 Italian fourth graders who used word processors for several months. Concludes that word processing can help motivate children and teachers to do more writing and that further improvement in writing skills would occur if the children received writing instruction. (CFR)

Excerpts from testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources regarding the proposed Technology for Education Act highlights the need for strong school library media collections and programs in addition to the latest technology. Highlights include funding, expenditures, media centers and student achievement, librarians'…

Describes the changing role of the library and the reference librarian and the effects of new information technology, changing demographics of student populations, and patrons' expectations for personalized service versus library instruction. Fees for meeting rooms, photocopying, videos, printouts of articles from online full-text, information…

Describes the partial conversion of Iceland's three-year teacher certification course into distance education mode. The social context and rationale of the project and the conditions and experience of participants in the initial phase of this pilot project are discussed. Technological and pedagogical concerns and program prospects are mentioned.…

Describes how remote users of electronic information resources can be effectively trained. The categories and characteristics of remote users, training challenges, and ways that emerging electronic capabilities can be used to enhance traditional bibliographic instruction methods are examined. (Contains 18 references.) (KRN)

Offers instructions and resources for Internet novices wanting to access Internet services. Instructions are offered for connecting to 13 education listservs, 9 electronic journals and newsletters, 3 education databases, 7 Telnet gopher sites, Veronica and Archie search tools, and File Transfer Protocol (FTP). (Contains 16 references.) (SLW)

Defines the concept of the virtual library, reviews factors in its inception, indicates prerequisites for its success, and explores the implications of the concept for librarianship, with an emphasis on the school library media center. (49 references) (KRN)

Discusses various types of technology used in online searching based on a survey of special libraries and online search services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The use of modem control programs, gateway software packages, CD-ROM, and LANs (local area networks) is examined, and intermediary searching versus end-user searching is considered. (10…

Discussion of the introduction of computers into African countries for social and economic purposes focuses on the use of computers in schools in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Topics discussed include obtaining hardware and software; training needs; the adoption process; teacher attitudes; and possible futures of computers. (54 references) (LRW)

The history of research on college teaching is traced, and methodologies used are highlighted. Topics reviewed include (1) class size; (2) lecture versus discussion; (3) student-centered discussion; (4) independent study and peer learning; (5) evaluation of teaching; (6) teaching and technology; and (7) impact of cognitive psychology. (SLD)

Reported is an approach to teaching the use of Macintosh computers to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students within the context of a simplified model of scientific research including proposal, data collection and analyses, and presentation of findings. Word processing, graphing, statistical, painting, and poster software were sequentially…

Reports on study of use of fractal geometry in a computer graphics program to improve the perception of intermediate grade level students in their paintings. Finds that students are more likely to use changing shapes and colors after viewing slides of fractal computer graphics. Concludes that fractal computer graphics would make highly engaging…

Describes effects of interactive video in the social studies classroom. Delineates basic system components and how they may be used to access multimedia kits or to create teacher-designed systems. Illustrates the method by using kits in a tenth grade world history class and an eighth grade unit on the 1988 presidential campaign. (NL)