Middle school educators face many challenges in today's education and political environment due to the focus on excellence as measured by achievement tests. This book discusses how middle schools can provide a strong standards-based academic program while, at the same time, remaining focused on the student-centered principles upon which the middle…

Based on findings that poorer schools tend to use computers mainly for drill work, while richer ones often use them for other purposes, such as supporting research and creativity, this project aimed to increase the understanding of how to best support teachers in inner-city schools. The project worked intensively with teachers from two inner-city…

In 1996, Fresno City College (California) introduced a multimedia presentations class to increase learning efficiency and teach students the skills they need to compete in a technologically advancing society. The course, entitled "Classroom of the Future," was presented to the Dean of Instruction for approval in 1993. Funding was…

The International Seminar on Teacher Education for the 21st Century in Hiroshima explores innovative strategies to enhance the quality of teacher education in the Asia-Pacific Region. The goal of the seminar is to identify problems and issues related to teacher competencies at rural as well as urban schools in the region; the focus of the 1997…

A study to determine the best predictors of teacher technology use in the classroom was conducted for small rural schools in southeastern Idaho. A 40-item survey was completed by 3,500 teachers in 55 school districts. Results indicated that one third to one half of the teachers never actually used technology for any instructional purpose. Over 70…

An evaluation (involving questionnaires, telephone interviews, focus groups, site visits, e-mail questions, and lab observation) assessed the success in implementing a statewide technology plan for adult literacy programs in Massachusetts that grew out of a set of recommendations developed by the Massachusetts Adult Literacy Technology Team…

This study examined female preservice teachers' perceptions of gender differences in the learning and use of computer technology, examining: how they compared themselves to males with regard to computer technology; at what skill levels they rated themselves with regard to various educational technology applications; how levels of self-esteem…

This paper briefly describes an assignment designed to improve teachers' attitudes toward technology through basic instruction. A group of teachers who were taking graduate level courses were introduced to computer technology in a non-threatening manner starting with learning the basic computer skills, such as e-mail, word processing, and…

This issue of a quarterly newsletter on lifelong learning focuses on the theme of the arts and humanities in adult literacy education. The following articles are included: (1) "In Defense of a Practical Education" (Earl Shorris); (2) "From the Program Director" (Elizabeth Bryant McCrary); (3) "Vermont Council on the…

This qualitative study explored the use of listservs as instructional instruments in a graduate-level leadership program at a Midwestern university. Nineteen graduate students, none of whom had prior training in using e-mail or listservs, participated in the semester-long project in which students were required to respond to assigned case studies…

Suggests a core curriculum for information access skills in automated school library media centers. Student activities are described for six main areas: designing an effective research question, understanding a database, designing a simple search strategy, more advanced search strategies, understanding a computer citation/abstract, and documenting…

A case study of an elementary school in Hong Kong found students benefit most when provided many opportunities to use information technologies (IT). Teachers' attitudes influence students' attitudes toward IT, and teachers are more likely to use technology if equipment is in the classroom. Improved curriculum and teaching methods will ensure the…

The K-12 and higher education communities have already voiced the need for technologically literate teachers. Standards movements and licensing agencies are stressing the importance of technology skills for beginning teachers and legislation is being passed which provides the impetus for change. Teacher preparation programs must have goals for…

Recommends two computer programs for elementary social studies use that help solve the problem of one-computer classrooms: Little Shoppers Kit, a store-in-the-classroom role play; and Choices, Choices, a two-part program concerning ethical questions relevant to students' experiences. Emphasizes cooperative learning, teacher as facilitator, and…

Discussion of computer literacy, database technology, and higher-order thinking skills focuses on a study that compared the problem-solving performance of fourth-grade students receiving search strategy training during computer-assisted instruction with students who did not receive training. Time spent on problems and the number of correct answers…