Discusses methods of teaching world geography and culture through student involvement and describes lessons that teach students about Africa. One uses maps; one uses computer-assisted instruction; and one uses various resources to recreate an African school day. A sidebar by Janine Onffroy Shelley describes the use of telecommunications systems in…

Describes policies formulated by the Chinese government that use information technology to facilitate the development of scientific and technical information activities. Highlights include online information retrieval; the construction of databases, including Chinese language, numeric, and Chinese trade and technology databases; the development of…

Describes objectives and technical design of the NCSU (North Carolina State University) Digitized Document Transmission Project, a collaborative project among the NCSU libraries, the National Agricultural Library, and 11 land grant university libraries, which is exploring issues involved in developing network-based document delivery systems for…

Describes remote access to the Norwich University (Vermont) online library catalog. Promotion of this service and impact on library attendance, circulation, and interlibrary loan are addressed. Sample screen displays and tables presenting attendance and circulation statistics are included. (five references) (MES)

This followup to a 1981 study presents descriptions of automated projects or activities in academic, public, and special libraries or information centers in the Greater Sao Paulo region that developed from 1981 through 1987. It is noted that an overall increase in the level of automation since 1981 has been observed. (four references) (Author/MAB)

After receiving a state grant to buy telecommunications equipment, high school students in two Detroit-area schools communicate across racial boundaries using computers and fax machines. The "Connections" program was developed to encourage students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate on joint research projects and reports. (SM)

Describes the Library Cable Network (LCN), a public access cable television network in Illinois. Discussion covers costs; organization and personnel; programing, including a series of author interviews, children's programs, and features on local attractions; new audiences, particularly minority and ethnic groups; and future telecommunications…

The distance education program offered by the University of Oklahoma was studied to determine the impact of telecommunications media upon learning outcomes. Comparison of the attitudes and achievement of students enrolled in the telecommunications course and a control group showed no differences in learning between the groups at any level. (18…

Students can participate in worldwide environmental adventures from the classroom. The Puddles to Pondwater software program introduces students to ponds and freshwater creatures worldwide. Students can adopt team members on the Congo Expedition, a group studying the African environment, and follow the expedition via satellite data and…

Describes a telecommunications session that enabled a class of fifth-grade students to interview international visitors at a distance. Topics addressed include the collaborative effort between Appalachian State University, public schools, and businesses to form a telecommunications network using Integrated Services Digital Network; and student…

Reviews three articles that discuss the ways gender issues and personal characteristics impact computer use. One paper proposes an alternative to using Likert-style attitude measures to study the computer gender gap, and two articles discuss the personal characteristics of teachers that influence computer use. Related studies are mentioned and…

Discussion of interactive television (ITV) focuses on a college sociology course taught at the University of Minnesota that used ITV. Topics addressed include cooperative learning; instructional design; student relationships; planning, including equipment needs; student participation; analysis of the discourse; and students' feedback. (nine…

Two articles evaluate the impact of new transmission and information technologies on education: "Technology and Education--Friend or Foe?" (Pelton) and "Third Generation Distance Education: The Challenge of New Technology" (Bates). (SK)

The infrastructure created by fusing computing and communications technologies is described. The effect of this infrastructure on the economy and society of the United States is discussed. The importance of knowing the value and role of information is emphasized. (KR)

Questions the wisdom of permitting visions of the electronic library to drive budgets and strategic planning. Social and economic realities limiting user access to information, new roles for librarians, and models that guide management of information resources and services by real librarians for real users are discussed. A proposed action agenda…