Based on two rules--be patient, and begin in nonthreatening areas--this basic introduction to computer and Internet use for teachers covers selecting software, the Internet, online training, online forums, and finding curriculum. Six teachers share experiences, advice, and their favorite online resources and educational applications. Numerous…

Compares the negative attitudes of professors toward pressure to integrate information technology to similar reactions to audiovisual materials 30 years ago. Presents a case study conducted at the University of Central Florida, outlining student and teacher reactions to Web-based courses. Suggests that faculty should maintain a proactive outlook…

A survey of 963 undergraduates and 27 faculty members in the University of Alberta (Canada) teacher education program found that computers were most often used as a personal productivity tool and not integrated into the curriculum. Deterrents to use of instructional technology by university staff were lack of funding, lack of time to learn new…

This paper reports on the use of an online, resource-based learning (RBL) approach in first year psychology at Deakin University. Differences between on- and off-campus students that emerged are examined in the context of the learning goals and study approaches of the two student groups and their attitudes to using computers. Unlike the on-campus…

This study evaluated a custom-designed course management system in use at a mid-sized public institution in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. While focusing primarily on gathering information relevant to the continued development of the course management system, this study sought to identify the relationship among user…

This practicum was designed to address the problem of computer anxiety and minimal computer usage among preservice teachers. An integrated curriculum was designed based on guidelines from the International Society for Technology in Education, in an attempt to require computer use by students for course assignments and instruction. Workshops…

Computerized adaptive testing (CAT) has become increasingly common in large-scale testing programs. This paper considers relevant practical issues that are likely to be faced by the developers and managers of a CAT program. The first cluster of issues is that of item pool development and maintenance. It includes such considerations as item pool…

This evaluation of the Learning Enhancement with Information Technology project examined the impact of the introduction of an information technology initiative on students' and teachers' attitudes toward computing and students' learning. The evaluation was designed as a case study involving Palmerston North Girls' High School (PNGHS) and a matched…

A state-by-state survey of technology in the schools was conducted during the spring of 1998. Responses were received from district technology coordinators in more than 1,990 school districts out of approximately 3,668 that were sent surveys in the following 21 states that achieved response rates of at least 40% of their districts: Alaska,…

An interactive tool was created to gauge the skills and attitudes of individuals and populations regarding computer technology and its attendant changes. The goal of the project was to develop a non-threatening, user-friendly instrument to assess the computer skills and attitudes of preservice and inservice teachers and administrators at all…

This paper describes the Reading Language Arts Technology Institute at California Lutheran University (CLU), a two-unit continuing education course to develop teacher content area knowledge in ways that effectively utilize technology in K-12 reading instruction. Goals included: to enhance the teaching of reading and language arts; to better…

The computer has been in the world's mathematics classrooms for some period of time now, but with varying degrees of implementation in the promotion of student learning. In this paper we describe longitudinal research over seven years which has investigated how primary school teachers actually make use of computers in their mathematics classroom,…

To maximize the level of comfort that will facilitate an equal exchange of ideas instructors need to tailor their pedagogy to fit their audience. That means they must consider the extent to which their students have been exposed to computers. The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) has a high percentage of "non-traditional" students.…

In 1997, Balwyn High School (Australia) instituted a class of 28 Year 7 students to use laptop computers across the curriculum. This report details findings from an action research project that monitored important aspects of what happened when this program was introduced. A range of measures was developed to assess the influence of the use of…

Educators who do not learn to use computers and the information highway in the classroom may be depriving themselves and their students of opportunities to access information and develop skills. This article describes how K-12 and higher education teachers should approach and use technology for management, collaboration, and conferencing. Software…