This volume highlights the challenges that electronic classrooms pose to faculty and students. The papers discuss both the pedagogy and the design of online courses. The 11 papers include: (1) "A Theoretical Framework for the Online Classroom: A Defense and Delineation of a Student-Centered Pedagogy" (Dave S. Knowlton); (2)…

Based on collaborative learning theories, this qualitative study describes seven adult students' experiences of learning in a context of synchronous computer-mediated communication within a distance education environment. The setting was an 8-week, Internet-based undergraduate/graduate sociology course sponsored by Indiana University Purdue…

This study focuses on one narrow segment of the electronic technology revolution--the utilization of the Internet in community college mathematics courses. The study's primary interest is in community college mathematics programs in New Jersey. Thus, it considers the general use of the Internet by the mathematics departments in New Jersey's…

This curriculum guide contains teacher and student materials for a course on outboard-engine boat systems for power product equipment technician occupations. The course contains the following three units of instruction: (1) Orientation to Outboard-Engine Boat Systems and Rigging; (2) Trailers and Safe Towing and Boat Operation; and (3) Seasonal…

Part of a European project to assess the opportunities and limitations of a sectoral approach to training, this synthesis report focuses on innovation and training in the agribusiness complex. Chapter 1 discusses the study objectives, which were to gain more insight into the relationship between innovation and qualification in product chains; into…

This directory is one of five which together describe almost 1200 discretionary grants and contracts currently supported by the Research to Practice Division of the Office of Special Education Programs under the 1997 Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This document covers grants and contracts in the program area…

Three years of developing an online course, responding to student needs, technological advances, communication issues, campus policies and politics, and an assortment of other issues taught the authors of this paper many lessons about Web-based instruction at the university. Experience indicated that prior to committing a course to online…

The Iowa Department of Education collects fundamental information on Iowa public schools with respect to various aspects of technology, its implementation and usage. The Technology Survey for the 1997-98 school year was administered to all school districts (377 of 384 districts responded) to collect current baseline information on a central core…

This literature review discusses the importance of technology to support teachers' professional development. Section 1, "Technology and Professional Development," highlights technology capacity of America's schools; barriers to effective technology use and professional development (e.g., lack of teacher training and lack of hardware and…

The Office of Technology Policy analyzed Bureau of Labor Statistics' growth projections for the core occupational classifications of IT (information technology) workers to assess future demand in the United States. Classifications studied were computer engineers, systems analysts, computer programmers, database administrators, computer support…

This study examined how support tools (i.e., prompts that support students to use self-explanation and self-monitoring strategies) facilitate convergent knowledge building processes in a World Wide Web-based virtual university engineering course. A quasi-experimental study was designed. An engineering class of a virtual university was selected as…

This paper present a model of factors influencing the teaching-learning exchange in adult distance education, focusing on five factors that have primary influence on the teaching-learning exchange: the teacher, the student, the content, the environment, and the learning community. Several techniques are proposed to overcome the limitations of…

This collection of essays, from Houston area educators, investigates and analyzes the state of social education, offering a critical and transformative perspective. Following a preface, chapters in the collection are: (1) "Addressing the Issues within Social Studies" (C. White); (2) "The Status of Social Studies Education" (C.…

This report presents the findings and recommendations from a study of school district and charter school participation in the Texas Virtual School Pilot (VSP). The report also provides an overview of the activities of the charter schools and districts that participated in the first year of the pilot program. This information includes descriptions…

This guide is intended to provide information to Massachusetts school districts and families regarding the availability of, access to, and payment mechanisms for assistive technology devices and services. The first section answers 13 questions concerning topics such as the difference between an assistive technology device and an assistive…