Noting that the curriculum in early childhood education is dramatically different from that at other levels of education, this volume seeks to clarify some of the issues related to early childhood curriculum development and its bases in both personal knowledge and knowledge from the different disciplines to achieve a "balanced curriculum."…

A number of recent reports note that colleges of education could do a better job in technology training. Most evident in these reports is the call for teachers to learn how to integrate technology into their instruction, rather than just learning technology skills in isolation. To heed recommendations and better respond to student needs, the…

This paper discusses computer based virtual field trips that use technologies commonly found in public schools in the United States. The discussion focuses on the advantages of both using and creating these field trips for an instructional situation. A virtual field trip to Cumberland Island National Seashore, St. Marys, Georgia is used as a point…

A number of educational and societal trends are analyzed for their potential impact on the practice of distance education. The trends reflect the various ideologies and values currently found within professional communities and publics at large. How the various trends push and pull in different directions, and how they may lead to alternative…

The Open University of Israel (OUI) is a distance education institution that offers over 250 computer-mediated courses through the Internet. All OUI students must pass an English reading comprehension exemption exam or take the University's English reading comprehension courses. Because reading instruction differs from content instruction,…

Higher education and learning calls for a human process, an interaction between facilitator and learner. A customized approach to individualized problems is more than just electronic delivery. The crucial issue is not the mode of delivery, but the skills required to facilitate learning. Unfortunately, evidence of a subtle re-definition of…

This paper discusses the mechanics of how and why to use videos to teach English-as-a-Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL). It is divided into three sections: a review of current theory on the use of video as an educational medium of instruction, using video in the ESL/EFL classroom, and key considerations for using video in the classroom with…

This study examined the use of concept maps for Web-based applications in higher education. The purpose of the project was to design concept maps that could serve as prototypes for navigating and searching Internet resources. It also explored the value of concept mapping as a method of bibliographic retrieval for the ERIC database. Following an…

This brief provides results from the most recent National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) survey of technology in private schools, focusing on trends in the availability of and access to technology from 1995 to 1998. In addition, it reports on the future connectivity plans of private schools not connected to the Internet and on the advanced…

This document is progress report on the U.S. Department of Education's Student Financial Assistance (SFA) programs. Regarding its customer satisfaction objective, SFA notes that it looks to private sector leaders in e-commerce and promotes electronic services; offers electronic filing of the Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA); offers most…

This indicator highlights findings about Internet access in schools. From 1994-98, Internet access and the percentage of instructional rooms with Internet access in public schools increased. Public schools with a high student poverty level were less likely to have Internet access than schools with a low poverty level from 1994-97. In fall 1998,…

This paper examines the problems faced by instructors of information technology when they try to introduce new technologies for delivering instructional material. Some of the issues discussed include: (1) dealing with new versions of software when the institution wants to keep older versions on its computers; (2) dealing with budgets, both as…

This paper discusses several applications of technology to facilitate better synchronous and asynchronous communication between faculty members and students and among students at Eastern New Mexico University's College of Business. Topics discussed include: (1) World Wide Web pages, including programming languages, browsers, and hyperlinks; (2)…

A recent master's level course in the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations at Illinois State University pushed the envelope on using instructional Internet technologies. This course utilized several in-person sessions (both on- and off-campus), e-mail, and a dedicated World Wide Web site. The majority of classes were held over…

This book grew out of presentations at the 1997 National Catholic Educational Association convention. "Twelve Reasons Why Small Catholic Schools Are Successful" (Donald F. Novotney) and "Advantages of a Small Catholic School" (Wayne A. Pelzel) focus on the advantages and climate of small schools. "Staffing and Scheduling…