The current gap in technology knowledge and lack of leadership preparation related to digital literacy for school environments can cause serious problems, as school leaders, parents, and broader social communities are currently realizing. The authors describe strategies for educational leaders to prepare their stakeholder groups for a digital…

Taking online courses has become a delivery mode of choice for many students. This collaborative study focuses on the impact of college readiness; technological resources, and course design on student success in an online introduction to computers distance education course within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). The…

Non-traditional student enrollment, especially at community colleges, has markedly risen in the last ten years due to national unemployment rates, the current economic climate, and employer demand for computer-literate employees. While university instructors struggle to constantly adapt their course materials to incorporate updates in software…

Taking online courses has become a delivery mode of choice for many students. This study focused on the impact of college readiness, technological resources, and course design on student success in an online computer literacy course offered in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). Recent statistics of student success in…

This article discusses how Edythe J. Hayes Middle School, a Lexington, KY, middle school is successfully preparing students for the technological world of the 21st Century. The mission statement for this three-year-old school includes these carefully crafted words: "...to engage all students in a safe and nurturing environment."…

Findings from a study to determine the status of computer use by secondary principals in Kentucky are presented in this paper. Data were derived from responses of 154 principals to a statewide survey. Findings indicate that a majority of the principals were uninformed and poorly trained to use computers in the management of their schools. The…

Very little research is available nationwide that measures the administrative use of computers in rural schools. A state survey of 154 rural Kentucky secondary school principals (representing a 51% response rate) focused on their knowledge about computers and use of computers for school administrative purposes. Only 14% of respondents had a…

This paper is a report on findings of a study conducted with the purpose of assessing the level of technology skills of graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in the teacher education program at Eastern Kentucky University. The study revealed both strengths and weaknesses in relation to a new technology standard for teachers recently adopted…

A survey was conducted to learn what Kentucky high school students think about the pursuit of learning opportunities after high school and how they are investing their time in anticipation of possible postsecondary attendance. The survey was sent to 3,000 16- and 17-year-olds, and nearly 1,100 responded. Nearly all were planning to go on for more…

Recounts one school of education's attempt to follow guidelines suggested by the International Society for Technology Education in preparing preservice educators to use computers effectively. The article addresses the ongoing professional development of teachers and makes suggestions for those involved in developing a technological component to…

This action research presents data about an online Master of Arts in Education (MAE) in Learning and Behavior Disorders (LBD), P-12 at Western Kentucky University. During extensive program revisions, the program developed a collaborative assessment model while preparing more than 300 special education personnel for work in rural schools.

The full impact of the current information technology and networking revolution remains unknown, but the experiences of organizations and individuals who are using the tools and resources offered by information technology suggest that it may change our social fabric. Some of the current and emerging trends in information technology include: the…

Traditionally, the fundamental goal of all American education has been to provide students with adequate competencies in reading, writing, and mathematics. A year-long project, conducted at three high schools in Hardin County, Kentucky, provided for the development of a fourth basic: computer skills. Through this project, computer skills were…

While the library is at the center of many campuses physically, it is often an overlooked and underused resource in improving the learning and success of first-year college students. Librarians, classroom faculty, administrators, and higher education researchers come together to explore the potential of the library in shaping the student…