East Carolina University recently hosted the first Virtual Worlds in Education Conference, a meeting held entirely in Second Life. The conference provided 135 faculty and administrators from around the world the ability to communicate and share their experiences on teaching, learning, and technology support in an online, multi-user virtual…

This article shows how highly mobile computing, when used with new forms of network connectivity, can allow new forms of activities in the mathematics classroom. Examples are provided, such as the ability to share, harvest, and aggregate mathematical objects, and the ability for teachers and students to analyze the entire set of classroom…

Contemporary changes in pedagogy point to the need for a higher level of video production value in most classroom video, replacing the default video protocol of an unattended camera in the back of the classroom. The rich and complex environment of today's classroom can be captured more fully using the higher level, but still easily manageable,…

The rapid growth of technology has made online tools available for education. The ability to discern the characteristics of these tools and to use them appropriately for educational purposes has become increasingly critical. Weblogs and discussion forums are among those up-and-coming tools that have great potential in supporting learning. They…

This article introduces two contrasting ways of using highly mobile information technology for educational purposes. The first example uses mobile devices and scientific probes to gather information; the second uses a combination of mobile and desktop computers to disseminate it by way of podcasts. The examples also show that mobile devices…

Educational technology integration in higher education consumes enormous resources but with little evidence of efficacy, due in large measure to lack of vision and a cohesive strategy. Instructors perceive formidable technical skills in undergraduate students, untapped in an instructional role, but this may be unfounded. This article proposes a…

Issues associated with the preparation of engineering faculty to teach online courses are examined. This includes: the nature of online teaching, engineering course materials, training faculty to teach online, use of online resources, course development, and evaluation of online courses. Selection of faculty and providing adequate support are…

Reviews traditional classification schemes for educational computing applications, and presents a new taxonomy based on the areas of knowledge dissemination, knowledge generation, and information management. (16 references) (CLB)

Reviews the growth of computer uses in education; discusses the increasing rate of change in society and the need for schools to provide students with information skills and the ability to build personal conceptual models; and considers the role of technology in schools, including expanding the learning community and developing authentic…

Examines the term interactivity as it is used in educational computing, and suggests that by applying deconstructive criticism new perspectives may be gained. Discusses learner control, non-linearity, and flexibility, and concludes that interactivity is not a conceptual unity. (LRW)

The Sultanate of Oman recently investigated the viability of online teacher training through a joint project funded by the U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative and the Oman Ministry of Education. One aspect of the project was to build sufficient capacity within the Ministry to enable Oman to produce online training in the future. This article…

In this article, Literacy 2.0 is defined in terms of Web 2.0 influences. Literacy 2.0 encompasses several major characteristics that distinguish it from traditional literacy practices (Literacy 1.0). For educational technology professionals, Literacy 2.0 skills become a critical means for developing lifelong learning.

The beginning of the 21st century is characterized by globalization--the integration of national economies and the development of technology and information technology--and by a new type of society--the knowledge-based society. Changes in society require changes in education, the mission of higher education institutions, and traditional ways of…

The author provides a look at the transformation the open Internet venue causes for knowledge resources from which students are expected to learn in their education. Knowledge content richly interacts within itself in the Internet venue. Mobiles will amplify this interconnectivity of cognitive content in powerful new ways. Changes are coming, and…

Though open educational resources (OER) promise to transform the conditions for teaching and learning worldwide, there are many barriers to the full realization of this vision. Among other things, much of what is currently considered "free and open" is legally, technically, and/or culturally incompatible. Herein, the authors give a brief history…