How students used computers and Internet access in the day-to-day work of the problem-based learning (PBL) classroom was studied with second year medical students working in small learning groups. Fifteen students, one from each PBL group, met as a focus group to discuss computer and Internet use. Several themes emerged from the discussions.…

This paper focuses on programs for the broad-scale, cyclical replacement of faculty desktop computers and attendant training to help faculty best utilize the new technology. Four diverse institutions, Mount Holyoke College, University of Mississippi, University of North Carolina, and Virginia Tech, present and discuss their solutions. Issues…

This paper describes how researchers at SRI International's Center for Technology and Learning designed and used an observation tool as part of its evaluation of a local Technology Innovation Challenge Grant program called Challenge 2000: Multimedia Project. The paper aims to present both the process and the tool that researchers, program…

This qualitative study investigated the following questions: (1) How quickly can first graders master basic e-mailing skills? (2) Does communicating through the Internet and e-mail provide motivation or incentive for children to read or write? (3) Will children write with specific conventions due to having an identifiable audience to whom they are…

The updated technology plan for the state of Texas makes requests of the Texas Legislature; states actions to be taken by the Texas Education Agency; and makes recommendations to other entities including other state agencies, regional education service centers, local school districts, institutions of higher education, communities and the private…

The existence of the World Wide Web has changed the way businesses and educational institutions, among others, present themselves to the public. The Web provides a new means by which institutions can promote programs, disseminate information and act as a link to related Web resources. This study researches the design of Web pages and presents a…

In partnership with the Memorial University of Newfoundland, the Vista School District, 1 of 10 districts in Newfoundland, Canada, established the Vista School District Digital Intranet (VSDDI) to deliver Web-based advanced placement courses to rural students. Advanced placement mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry courses are delivered…

This paper reports the findings of a comparative study of the content of electronic exchanges among members of learning communities to determine what kinds of online dialogue differences, if any, exist. The virtual learning communities compared are two cohorts within the same professional preparation program for teachers aspiring to become school…

Educational technology units must continually monitor their strategic plans to ensure that they are aligned with the realities of their institutions. Strategic dissonance occurs when previously successful strategies are no longer achieving the same positive outcomes. The Virtual Retina CD-ROM project is used in this paper as an example of…

The 1999 WebNet conference addressed research, new developments, and experiences related to the Internet and World Wide Web. The 394 contributions of WebNet 99 contained in this proceedings comprise the full and short papers accepted for presentation at the conference. Major topics covered include: commercial, business, professional, and community…

For over two-thirds of the public schools in the United States, it is now possible to see a report on school performance over the Internet. Such reports can include student demographics and performance, teacher qualifications and salary levels, funds expended per pupil, and sources of funding. Often, bases are offered for comparing a school with…

This study compared the attitudes of preservice teachers toward using online tutoring versus face-to-face tutoring with K-12 students. California Lutheran University (CLU) developed a service learning, tutoring project within the teacher preparation foundations of education course in the summer of 2000. The CLU school of education purchased an…

This book is designed as a personal reference tool for K-12 teachers, distance educators, and corporate trainers integrating technology into the curriculum. "Part 1: Understanding the Basics of Instructional Technology" sets the stage with an introductory examination of the discipline of instructional technology. Part 1 contains chapters:…

Since the development of the Educational Technology Plan PK-12 in 1996, the state of Wisconsin has made great strides to ensure that the technologies necessary for fostering student growth and achievement are available to urban, suburban, and rural children alike. This addendum, intended to supplement the 1996 plan, will provide Wisconsin's school…

The REPRESENTATION Project, 1998-2000, carried out research within elementary schools in six European countries: Denmark, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, and England. Altogether, 31 schools participated, ranging from large inner city schools in Paris and Amsterdam, to a 20-student school in a Greek village. In each school, one class of…