Research on youth use of multiliteracies and multimodal texts often imply that youth are inherently motivated by digital technologies. In this column, I consider the nature of research into motivation and multiliteracies. I suggest that the concepts of competence, autonomy, and relatedness should be integrated with a multilayered contextual…

In this age of information and technology, educational institutions not just impart knowledge to individuals, but strive to change them into lifelong learners. ICT challenges the traditional method of teaching and learning through its potential as a source of knowledge. Like other developing countries of the world, a computer revolution has taken…

In both schools and homes, information and communication technologies (ICT) are widely seen as enhancing learning, this hope fuelling their rapid diffusion and adoption throughout developed societies. But they are not yet so embedded in the social practices of everyday life as to be taken for granted, with schools proving slower to change their…

Media literacy is making a comeback, spurred by students' access to unlimited information on the Internet. Can schools provide the skills students need to become media literate in a digital world? Researchers find that reading for understanding online requires the same skills as offline reading, including using prior knowledge and making…

In Fall 2000, when "Theory and Research in Social Education" (TRSE) first dedicated an issue to technologies in social studies education, Neil Postman contributed a View Point piece to this issue. Postman, who died in 2003, was an interesting choice because he was an outspoken critic of educational technology who believed that, as he said at the…

Librarian's jobs are increasingly involved in high tech equipment and cyberspace resources because most of them have had to learn about technology. Guidelines are provided for horning one's basic skills and computer knowledge. These skills can then be used to help students and teachers in taking the school technology program forward in the future.

The student who has an understanding of computers and other modern technologies is becoming important in college and in the workplace. Two California State Universities now require a personal computer for incoming freshmen. Vice President Albert Gore has urged all Americans to get on the information superhighway. Parents can assist their child and…

A study examined the incorporation of computer games into English classrooms, seeking to explore computer games as text, players' engagement with them, literacies needed, and the interchangeability of traditional and newer technology. Subjects were students enrolled in a coeducational private middle school or a state secondary school, and used two…

Considers the extent to which schools need to address computer technology, and discusses which strategies can be employed to maximize the benefits and minimize the difficulties in integrating computer technology into the current educational framework. Advocates incorporation of computer technology into educational practices. (Contains 17…

Presents suggestions for teacher preparation programs wishing to integrate technology into their curricula, using information from a study of the International Business Machine (IBM) "Teacher Preparation with Technology Grant Program" which funded 144 projects. The four biggest project problems were leadership/administration, faculty,…

The Southeast Asian country of Singapore comprises a main island and numerous islets between Malaysia and Indonesia. Inhabited by Chinese, Malays, Indians, Eurasians, and other ethnic populations, Singapore is a vibrant mix of different cultures and religions. It is also reputed to be the most wired island in the world. This characteristic--along…

Technology has been making rapid strides since its inception in the school curriculum. In 1970, four kinds of software were available for use in reading instruction, although they were criticized for deficiencies. Throughout the 1980s, the number of schools having computers and sufficient software increased. Advantages in using computers in…

This paper describes the experiences of a non-technologically oriented composition instructor who began a writing course that incorporated online computer technology. Following the Northridge (California) earthquake in 1994, the administration at California State University Northridge (CSUN) recognized the importance of creating electronic…

Digital literacy, the ability to understand, evaluate, and integrate information in multiple, computer-delivered formats, is a critical skill. A multimedia computer with an Internet connection allows people to construct information from around the world. Virtual instruction is best used to supplement, not replace classroom teachers. Educators…

World-wide incorporation of new technologies into the classroom has revealed many common issues. These include the following: governments link educational technology to their country's stature; appropriate teacher training is lacking; equity and accessibility vary; and because technologies engage children with learning in new and dynamic ways,…