Presents the philosophical, methodological, and conceptual contributions of earth science to the biology curriculum. Explores how the curriculum can build on these contributions to achieve greater relevance for students as a basis for decision making. Gives examples of computer networks that accomplish that goal. (11 references) (MDH)

Based on interviews with widows and wives, examined effects of marital status on older women's help to kin and friends. Although married women provided more help to kin than did widows, most differences could be explained in terms of greater material resources marriage provided. Widows spent more time and gave more practical help to friends than…

Offers 10 guidelines for librarians responsible for making decisions on whether to upgrade application software. Examines the Internet, client/server LAN (local area network) architecture, developments in contemporary stand-alone systems, and graphic user interfaces to determine their impact on the upgrading process. (AEF)

Assessed continuity and change at multiple levels of adolescent friendship networks over the school year. Continuity and change were characterized for individuals' friendships, friendship groups, network type, and the school network as a whole, covering both subjective and consensus-based networks. Found moderate stability and continuity at all…

Describes the electronic network for interaction (ENFI) used by the author's writing classes and offers a brief example of "the conversation that it has helped student negotiate." Concludes that student discussions mediated by ENFI can enrich writing and literature classes. Presents evidence of how a specific sample of computer-mediated…

An article by Nan Wodarz in the November 1997 issue listed reasons why the Microsoft computer operating system was superior to the Apple Macintosh platform. This rebuttal contends the Macintosh is less expensive, lasts longer, and requires less technical staff for support. (MLF)

Under the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the Federal Communications Commission established a $2.25 billion annual fund to support communications services for needy K-12 schools and libraries. Services eligible for Universal Service support include telephone lines, integrated digital networks, private lines, and Internet access hookups. The…

Changes in library services due to advancing information technology constitute a revolution comparable to invention of the printing press. Democratization of access to knowledge is a positive development, but it should not be confused with democratization of knowledge. This is where any system of information networking may be misleading; in…

Monotonic logic requires reexamination of the entire logic string when there is a contradiction. Nonmonotonic logic allows the user to withdraw conclusions in the face of contradiction without harm to the logic string, which has considerable application to the field of information searching. Artificial intelligence models and neural networks based…

Through a $7.5 million U.S. Department of Education grant, students at the Hudson (Massachusetts) Public Schools "attend" Virtual High School--a network of 30 schools in 10 states. Kids attend classes any time, work collaboratively, and choose among innovative, timely, technologically rich course offerings. Other sites are described.…

Describes a nurses' training program in Germany that adapted self-instructional learning material for use by networked universities for distance education. Topics include testing, evaluation, and revision of the learning modules; adaptation in distance education; and empirical evidence for the process of adaptation. (LRW)

Lists institutions and individuals experienced in the five models of college learning community (linked courses, learning clusters, freshman interest groups, federated learning communities, coordinated studies), as well as networks supporting learning-community and other collaborative efforts, and major works on learning communities and…

Describes a theoretically and empirically based framework for how users formulate and employ information-seeking strategies in open-ended information systems (OEISs). Discusses challenges related to OEISs. Describes OEIS theoretical and users' perspectives. Presents an example based on a recent study to illustrate use of the OEIS…

Demonstrates the use of a descriptive assessment of an information policy initiative using the Government Information Locator Service (GILS) as an example. Techniques discussed include historical perspective, review of the key policy instrument, descriptive modeling, side-by-side analysis, review of related policy instruments, literature review,…

School reform efforts will fail unless the focus shifts from individual development to social capital development. A social capital structure that unites home, community, and school into a comprehensive web goes beyond units of human capital. (SK)