From dynamic spreadsheets through "microworlds" to virtual reality, the convenience and, in many instances, the seemingly intrinsic appeal of simulated environments exist in some tension alongside concerns regarding the relationship of the simulated to the "real" and the possible consequences for human thought, learning, and behavior. A selection…

Discusses how to combat techno-stress, based on experiences of Archbishop Wood High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Addresses faculty training; selecting and purchasing technology; students as sources of technology maintenance; and senior citizen volunteers as lab supervisors. (AEF)

Discusses how to use video in classroom projects. Highlights include: mastering simple camera work; using video as a teaching tool for demonstration, modeling, and student feedback; electronic publishing; and steps in pre- and post-production. Sidebars outline six reasons for using multimedia in the classroom, and solutions for dealing with…

Describes the World Links for Development (WorLD) program, a World Bank effort to bring the Internet to 40 developing countries to connect 1500 secondary schools for collaborative project-based learning. Discusses the World Bank's role in development; program objectives, focus of training, financing, and goals; and lessons learned. (PEN)

Describes investments made by Garrison Middle School (Walla Walla, WA) in video and computer technology with which the school's sixth graders produced daily video news broadcasts. The "electronic evolution" there has resulted in a schoolwide computer network which aids activities such as writing and library use. Future plans include…

Explains the technical operation of the World Wide Web in four simple steps. Includes a glossary of Web-related terms and an explanation of the components making up a universal resource locator (URL) address. Neatly contained on one page, this would make a perfect handout or flyer for a computer lab. (MJP)

Describes a prototypical microcomputer system that improves the interactions between teacher and large language classes in a traditional language classroom setting. This system achieves dynamic interactions through multiple student/professor interventions, immediate and delayed feedback, and individual teacher/student conferences. The system uses…

Educators should jettison organization-theory definitions of technology as "neutral." Technology helps steer institutions' organizational assumptions, and should be co-opted to educational ends. Outlining specific strategies, a case study suggests how a professional-development unit might provide leadership in a "knowledge…

Despite countless networking and interactive possibilities, the most commonly assigned use of classroom technology during 1997-98 was word processing, followed by Internet research and information gathering. Schools' reliance on general-purpose computing devices will eventually yield to lower cost, hand-held, and networked devices. (Contains 10…

Describes the Technology-Based Teacher Education (TBTE) Program at Lehigh University. Discusses the Seminar in Elementary and Secondary Education, in which preservice teachers regularly work in classrooms with inservice teachers, and the partnership with a K-12 independent school--which addresses the needs of both inservice and preservice…

Examined the impact of instructional technology in an educational foundations course on students' perceptions of instructional technology, research skills, and learning. Surveys indicated that while utilizing the Internet for research, students improved their perception of instructional technology related to confidence and comfort level, frequency…

As the numbers of migrant farmworkers active in the United States increases, so does the need to provide effective literacy programs for them and their families. Homestate and upstream programs are designed to meet the needs of migrant workers. The paper provides examples of successful programs that involve whole migrant families in literacy…

An interactive videodisc (IVD) system enables a student to practice skills that would otherwise be too costly or dangerous to attempt. IVD designers, utilizing the principle of hypermedia, stimulate students with realistic imagery and sound and branching options. The computer is able to evaluate the student's entry skills, identify deficiencies,…

Explores the role of technology in current educational practice, based on conflicting perceptions of two major theorists in the field of instructional design. Examines four questions extracted from their ongoing debate on technology-based learning, focusing on the following: whether presence of technology implies learning, learner's role, whether…

Describes technology integration at Seton Hall. Discusses new teaching roles and methods; technology and popular culture; technological equity; and school and university needs. Focuses on several technology-based partnerships between the university and schools, including summer programs; technology training; connecting university faculty and…