This collection presents 92 papers or summaries of papers presented at a 2000 conference on self-study and institutional improvement for institutions of higher education. Papers are grouped into these chapters, with some sample topics in parentheses: (1) "Regional and National Initiatives" (associate degrees; adult learning); (2) "Quality…

The purpose of this study was to examine problems with the current computer-based electronic communication systems and to initially test and revise a new and different paradigm for e-collaboration, Relate@IU. Understanding the concept of sending links to resources, rather than sending the resource itself, is at the core of how Relate@IU differs…

The digital divide is a commonly used term in today's society, but few truly understand the impact that it has on minority students. This issue is one that goes beyond access to technology, but encompasses issues of equity in use. This paper examines the data on home and school computer use by minority students. It discusses the College Reach-Out…

Universities worldwide are consolidating and enhancing their commitments to various models of e-learning. These activities are leading to the adoption of corporate-wide e-learning systems and accompanying changes in structures, processes, and infrastructure requirements. The professed ideal is to identify narrowly defined corporate instructional…

This report analyses the disclosure issues raised by technically-imposed restrictions on the use of digital content. It focuses on the application of copy control and digital rights management technologies in three areas: copy-protected CDs; online music, and DVD regional coding. In each of these areas, the report examines the kinds of…

The Further Education (FE) sector in the United Kingdom has devoted time, energy, and resources in recent years to the development and improvement of information systems known as management-information systems. This report presents the findings of a research project on the use of management-information systems in student tracking. The project was…

The World Wide Web model has evolved within companies from a repository for notice boards to a new tool that can improve work productivity. Intranets, the internal or corporate internets, are likely to be the key information technology revolution for the remainder of this century. The intranet concept is derived from the present Internet as a…

Trends in publishing, advances in technology and pressures on library budgets have combined to put libraries and publishers at odds with each other. Research libraries expect broad, easy access to electronic information, greater convenience and faster delivery but at reduced cost. Publishers are exploring new channels for distributing their…

Data from the Current Population Surveys of the U.S. Census were used to construct this report on the access to and use of computers and information technology by the Hispanic population of the United States. The report explores four main issues, each of which is being transformed by innovations in information technology. The first issue…

This paper comments on three presentations (Janet Fisher, Malcolm Getz, and Bill Regier) at the Scholarly Communication and Technology Conference; it focuses on publisher costs, and also discusses the electronic publishing efforts undertaken at the University of Chicago Press. Janet Fisher, from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Press,…

A founding co-editor of Bryn Mawr Classical Review (BMCR) examines the costs and benefits of networked electronic communication for scholars. Some of the tools that have the potential to change the way scholars work include: online reference; online productivity information; e-mail as a productivity tool; and formal online publishing endeavors. A…

Online or distributed learning is becoming an increasingly popular method of delivering higher education. In this paper, the effectiveness of online teaching using a virtual classroom environment is examined. Also examined are techniques that college professors can use to make their students feel involved in the class as a community. An example of…

This document was developed to provide assistance to individuals in education organizations who want to learn more about what it takes to develop the best possible technology solution for an organization. It identifies the steps needed to determine technology needs, to list options, to acquire the technology, and to implement a technology solution…

This Library Services and Technology Act Five Year Plan was prepared in compliance with Section 224 State Plans of the Library Services and Technology Act (Public Law 104-208). The goal of this plan is to assist South Carolina libraries in providing a high level of information services to all South Carolinians, regardless of the type of library…

This paper presents the Virtual Reference Desk project, its current activities, and a proposed information system architecture to build a human intermediated network of expertise and experience for the K-12 community. The Virtual Reference Desk is a project headed by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology and funded by the U.S.…