This review explains how agent-based software technology works, discusses features of agent-based software that make it appropriate for students with disabilities, and describes a few current applications. It highlights the benefits of allowing students to interact with a friendly animated character but still be exposed to realistic images.…

Discusses the crucial position of the chief information officer (CIO) at higher education institutions and reviews the six major stages of information technology (IT) planning. Includes fundamental elements related to an IT vision; roles of the CIO; the six-stage planning model for a realistic IT vision; and factors for success. (AEF)

Offers a description of WebQuests, defining it as an activity that primarily uses Internet resources. Explains that WebQuests consist of five parts (Introduction, Task, Process, Evaluation, and Conclusion). Presents a WebQuest example used with elementary students studying ancient Egypt. Includes a list of Web sites and an example rubric. (CMK)

Discusses factors in the successful integration of computers into the early childhood classroom, including children's openness to new experiences and the need for teachers to be open to new ideas and confident in the positive role of technology. Considers elements to look for in choosing educational software. (JPB)

"Broadband," the term for a variety of high-speed Internet options, opens up many opportunities for online classroom learning. Challenges for school districts include keeping the network running, training teachers, and paying for it. A sidebar lists broadband resources. (MLF)

This paper evaluates two commercially available educational software programs ("Bailey's Book House" and "Stickybear's Reading Room") to illustrate how they might be used to train or reinforce audition skills in students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Results suggest the value of multiple uses of educational software. (DB)

Describes how sixth-grade students in a computer and math project at the Ralph Bunche Computer Minischool in New York City collected and entered penny tossing data on spreadsheets for a unit on probability, and how they were encouraged to collect more data by setting up a World Wide Web-based form. Includes a copy of the Web form. (PEN)

Discusses when instructional designers, communicators, and learners should use multimedia. Outlines reasons for using sound in multimedia; discusses how to use music, voice, and animation; and describes how to reap the benefits of video for online documentation when the costs of the medium are justified. (AEF)

Summarizes the results of a meeting of activists from the field of instructional technology who consider the likely impact instructional technology will make on the future science curriculum. Contains 17 references. (DDR)

In California, home of many computer companies, community colleges are having difficulty acquiring computers and training faculty to use them. Observers are concerned that high-technology jobs, vital to the state's economy, may have to be filled from out of state. However, level of technology varies widely by institution, and a few offer…

Higher education's response to crisis must focus on developing institutions' competitive advantage. Technology is the basis on which institutional renewal must occur. American higher education is not using technology intelligently because it is driven by teaching, not learning. Today's technology fundamentally changes the relationship between…

Internet2, a consortium effort of over 100 universities, is investing in upgrading campus and national computer network platforms for such applications as digital libraries, collaboration environments, tele-medicine, and distance-independent instruction. The project is described, issues the project intends to address are detailed, and ways in…

Describes the development of a model for delivering the first course in computer programming to large and diverse classes. Presents an integrated approach that emphasizes program-design skills and problem-solving skills, and motivates students to learn by active processes. Team teachers, tutors, and lab demonstrators integrate lectures, tutorials,…

Lists Internet websites related to articles in this issue. Topics include multiage classrooms, writing projects, and students learning English as a Second Language. (AA)

Discusses the use of interactive computer-assisted lab exercises that combine text, graphics, and simple animation. Students use these self-paced applications to test their level of comprehension, identify their misconceptions, and seek explanatory information. Benefits include consistency in teaching and evaluation, and the ability to link with…