Results of a formative evaluation of a decision aid for students of taxonomic domains such as statistics or biology are reported. The tool, XPT-EASE, is designed to allow a student to search a taxonomy by traversing its branches in an arbitrary order, presumably the order simplest for the student, rather than by starting from the root node and…

The presence of the computer in the classroom is no longer considered an oddity; it has become an ordinary resource for teachers to use for the enhancement of instruction. This paper presents an examination of software infusion, i.e., the use of computer software to enrich instruction in an academic curriculum. The process occurs when a chosen…

Including revisions and updates in all areas, this book functions as a pre-service and in-service teacher self-instructional manual in word recognition skills. The first part of the book discusses the controversy concerning early phonics instruction versus use of the whole language approach, and then discusses consonants, vowels, reading…

This document promotes a better awareness of available technological tools, their implementation, and their advantages and applications in teaching and learning mathematics. Principles for successful implementation are: (1) computation should be an integral part of instruction; (2) software and curriculum development should go hand-in-hand; (3)…

This handbook provides innovative ideas for enhancing a learning community for students and faculty and offers administrators a blueprint for surviving into the next decade. The book argues that we are witnessing the final phase of "smokestack education," an outmoded approach to schooling that was designed to fuel an industrial society's need for…

This paper reviews the background and key terminology of the Internet, its current scope and use, and a selection of public policy issues. "Chapter 1: What Is the Internet?" includes an overview; capsule history; explanation of how the Internet works; basic terminology; and the kinds of information available on the Internet.…

This paper discusses common causes of problems encountered with audio systems in distance learning networks and offers practical suggestions for correcting the problems. Problems and discussions are divided into nine categories: (1) acoustics, including reverberant classrooms leading to distorted or garbled voices, as well as one-dimensional audio…

This study explored the relationships among communication technologies, communication apprehension, writing apprehension, and computer anxiety. Participants were 130 students from a variety of undergraduate oral communication classes in a large midwestern university who completed a modified form, 10 items, of McCroskey's Personal Report of…

The Kentucky Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation in Teacher Education guidelines direct institutions of higher education to plan a continuous assessment component in their preservice and inservice teacher education programs. To meet these guidelines, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) has created a portfolio…

This descriptive research investigated issues relating to college students' use of instructor-created World Wide Web sites at the University of Nevada, Reno. Points of interest included student use of instructor Web pages and features found on a Web page perceived by students as most useful. Student use of instructor Web pages was identified by…

A network of electronic mail systems connects universities throughout the United States and several foreign countries. Colleges of education link with public schools to support the student teaching process. Telecommunication tools for collaboration promise benefits for university faculty, student teachers, and cooperating teachers. Appalachian…

Electronic communication tools may have more in common with the old communication game where tin cans were connected by a string than with traditional classroom communication. The charge is to find ways to make the communication more like, and possibly better, than effective classroom communication. Creating a firm foundation for successful…

Computers and Internet access are becoming increasingly frequent tools and resources in California's K-12 schools. Discussions with teachers and other education personnel and a review of published documents and other sources show the range of uses found in California classrooms, suggest what are the best practices with respect to computer…

A survey conducted in the fall of 1996 shows that a majority of community colleges have the following technological amenities: campus computer labs, Internet connectivity, campus computer networks, increased funding for instructional technology, and separate instructional systems departments. The Community College Computer Survey was sent to…

This paper suggests that the Internet has great potential for educating and informing those who use it--but only if they have access to educational content that informs them in a way that meets their needs. Many community-based groups, nonprofit agencies, and institutions have volunteered to give all children and families, especially those who…