The first of two articles in this issue of Policy Briefs focuses on the potential of modern technology to transform education in terms of what is taught, how it is taught, and how the educational enterprise is managed. Judson Hixson and Debra Beauprez center their discussion around five categories of issues that have emerged from this increased…

The libraries of the University of Maine System, Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby Colleges have installed integrated systems which are being linked electronically and are designed to promote the maximum sharing of library resources, thereby significantly enhancing the teaching and research capabilities of each institution. The institutions propose to…

Increasingly, technology is incorporated into second language teaching and learning both in and out of classroom situations. The computer alone has many capabilities for enhancing language learning, but when combined with other technologies, the possibilities multiply for information retrieval, interactive audio- and video-assisted learning, use…

This case study focuses on the impact of technology in the Peakview Elementary School (Colorado) which, in order to implement organizational and teaching strategies advocated by the school restructuring reform movement, installed more than 80 networked computers and related technology. The study relied on written surveys and interviews of teachers…

As background for its fifth meeting, Ocotillo, the faculty-driven think tank for instructional technology issues of the Maricopa Community Colleges (Arizona), presents reports from its working groups for 1991-92. The groups explore the uses and development of educational technology, particularly in the community college setting. The reports are:…

Today's information infrastructure provides access to a growing array of software and services for education. As both the capabilities of technology and the number of its uses grow, the need to set national policy for computer networking has become increasingly apparent. The High Performance Computing Act of 1991 established government support for…

This document presents a work plan for developing distance education programs delivered by telecommunications and other media to citizens of the state of Washington. It is intended to provide direction for future postsecondary education programs delivered in whole or in part by telecommunications and for a study on how to accomplish this. The plan…

In January 1990, project SYNERGY was launched by 19 two-year colleges and 3 four-year colleges coordinated by Miami-Dade Community College, in Florida, with support from IBM and Title III funds. The project was designed to review and compile lists of useful instructional software for basic skill remediation and develop an integrated, adaptive,…

The purposes of this research were to evaluate the cost effectiveness of using Asynchronous Computer Conferencing (ACC) and to develop guidelines for effectively conducting high quality military training using ACC. The evaluation used a portion of the Engineer Officer Advanced Course (EOAC) as a test bed. Course materials which taught the same…

The audiographics distance learning system (ADL) was piloted by Far West Laboratory (FWL) in 1987-1989 at four school districts in the Great Basin region of Utah. This project was designed to: (1) further develop ADL planning materials for rural schools; (2) disseminate information about ADL to regional and national audiences; and (3) provide ADL…

This research project was designed to evaluate the synergistic effects of linking workshops for science teachers with electronic conferencing. The rationale for this study was that these two methods of professional development and communication would have an impact beyond that which either would have alone. Included are the abstract, a description…

The California Agriculture Education Computer Network was developed to provide agricultural educators and support staff in agricultural education with the most up-to-date and comprehensive agricultural information possible. The network allows secondary instructors to access databases that contain information about the most recent agricultural…

The Special Committee on Educational Technology of the National Education Association (NEA) was given the task of reviewing the status of educational technology in the public schools and making recommendations for appropriate NEA policy and programmatic activities. Topics discussed in this report include technology and change in both the…

This paper examines the use of computers and communication technology for the storage, retrieval, dissemination, creation, analysis, and transformation of information. Examples are provided of the use of compact disks for the storage and retrieval of counselling and research information. To demonstrate the role of information technology in…

The Florida Information Resource Network (FIRN) is an effort by the Florida education community and the Florida Legislature to provide an electronic link among all agencies, institutions, and schools in the public education system. The communications link, perhaps one of the most advanced in the nation, has three purposes: (1) to provide equal…