The author argues that school library media specialists are professional educators first interested in the child and his or her success in school and in life and not in educational fads. Includes an annotated bibliography of print and nonprint resources to put into perspective the debate over technology in the classrooms. (PEN)

The biggest barrier to fully implementing a program like the Big Six has been traditional attitudes toward student assessment. This article defines assessment terminology and provides an annotated bibliography of World Wide Web resources for alternative assessment, authentic assessment and portfolios, rubrics, specific course content and ages and…

A Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) engineering professor has developed eight computer programs that simulate laboratory experiments, creating a "virtual laboratory" for his introductory engineering class. Experiments are fully interactive, giving students the opportunity to try eight different problem-solving strategies. Students can…

Identifies the Internet as a rich source of materials that provide alternative avenues for learning that are independent of time and distance constraints. Provides tips for searching for information concerning continuing education, research, and professional associations. Includes list of on-line resources, listservs and newsgroups, and selected…

Describes a bilingual (Arabic-English) computerized braille-printing system for students with blindness that has been implemented at Kuwait Special Schools. The various facets of the system, including the hardware used, are discussed, and the features of the system are highlighted. Recommendations and future applications are also presented.…

Describes the development of an instructional technology course at Fairmont State College (West Virginia) for education majors that included a teaching module combining steps of the writing process to provide for the interdisciplinary focus of writing across the curriculum. Discusses desktop publishing, the National Writing Project, and student…

Discusses 10 Internet misconceptions: all information is available, no copyright laws apply, all information is free, complete research papers can be completed, all sites are true and equal, objectionable material is everywhere, information can be found faster, complex databases are easier to search, latest information is always available,…

Describes two projects that illustrate students' helping teachers use technology. In the Teacher Resources Under Student Tutors (TRUST) project, middle- and high-school students collaborate with teachers on a specific lesson. In the global videoconferencing SAXophone (Students All over the world eXchaning over the phone) project, middle and high…

Provides an overview of New Horizons for Learning, a nonprofit organization founded in 1980. New Horizons acts as a catalyst for change in education, communicates relevant research, supports an expanded vision of learning, implements proven strategies for learning at all ages and abilities, and supports lifelong learning communities. Highlights…

The Internet and the National Information Infrastructure provide a multimedia environment for offering distributed distance education over wide area networks. Distributed education encompasses practices where geographically dispersed learning resources share communication. Discusses advantages of distributed education and examines the educational…

Most students report preferring group learning to distance education. Examines earlier debates about technology in education and the dilemma of students not wanting distance learning but increasingly demanding it. It discusses how to successfully incorporate it into mainstream education. (SM)

Examines a family-centered approach to the prescription and delivery of computers to children with disabilities. Discusses effective team decision making regarding computers in the home environment, and the relevance of family and cultural factors, such as family routines, stress, cultural value systems, and time constraints. Considers…

Offers background on constructivism as a means of reconceptualizing the ways in which students learn. Given this concept of learning and the Montessori emphasis on contextualized learning, investigates the potential role of the Internet and the World Wide Web in the classroom, including examples of classroom use and career development. (Author/SD)

Scotch College (Adelaide, Australia) has networked 90% of its classrooms. This article describes the campus computer network and its hardware and configuration; World Wide Web problems and solution; a "mini Internet" of curriculum-specific materials gathered from the Web; student and faculty use; student and staff training; security;…

Provides examples of how one public elementary school library media specialist integrates the use of computers into literature lessons. Describes activities for grades K-5 as well as project suggestions for any grade. (AEF)