"Harvard Education Letter" is published bimonthly by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This issue of "Harvard Education Letter" contains the following articles: (1) Confronting the Autism Epidemic: New Expectations for Children with Autism Means a New Role for Public Schools (Kate McKenna); (2) Internet Research 101:…

An action research study investigated how the multiple tasks found in WebQuests facilitate fifth-grade students' literacy skills and higher order thinking. Findings indicate that WebQuests are most successful when activities are carefully selected and systematically delivered. Implications for teaching include the necessity for adequate planning,…

This study examined the teacher work samples of 197 student teachers to determine their level of technology integration during student teaching. Findings indicated that most student teachers planned to use some kind of technology, although only 40% planned to include computers and less than 20% planned for the use of computers by students. The…

Personal Broadcasting, which includes podcasting, vodcasting, phonecasting, Webcasting, blogging, and wikis, is one of the emerging technologies that will have a significant effect on education within the next five years. This article describes the techniques used in personal broadcasting, describes how they are being used in higher education,…

Many colleges have either begun or are contemplating using the web-based survey to gather student feedback on faculty teaching. Unlike the paper-based method, the web-based approach gives every student in the class the opportunity to provide feedback. Hence, the populations that participate in the web-based and paper-based methods may be quite…

This paper examines the use of digital resources by academic staff in a single UK University and its influence on academic practice over a two to three year period. The paper describes two linked studies that address several of the themes regarding the impact of electronic resources identified in this special edition. In particular it provides…

According to a January 2007 survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 55 percent of teens (ages 12 to 17) report having created a personal profile online, and an equal number regularly use social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook. Of those, 91 percent use the sites to stay in touch with friends they see frequently. With all…

Educators at elementary, middle, and high school levels will find that integrating digital tools and resources--many commonly used by students in their "out of school" lives--can be a springboard to creativity and new skills. In this article, the author describes how word processors, presentation software and hardware, mind-mapping applications,…

The Internet, a major component of the information superhighway, has great promise for enhancing the capacity of schools to meet new learning and teaching requirements. In the first part of the video, the following six stories are presented showing students engaged in authentic tasks and collaborative learning with students and professionals…

This digest provides a sample of the best current Gopher and World Wide Web (WWW) resources devoted to urban and minority education, and provides Gopher addresses whenever possible in addition to Uniform Resource Locator addresses. Sites that have been developed specifically to offer resources and support to urban educators include: (1) UEweb, a…

Berry College (Georgia) installed a new library computer and operating system, connected five buildings via a campus local area network (LAN), added eight faculty/staff offices to the LAN, completed an Internet connection, and has a name server operating. The college has also established e-mail and limited campus accounts for 300 of its 2,000…

This handbook is a guide for newcomers to the Internet, as well as for those more experienced. It includes ideas and information on how to use online technologies, current examples, resources, hints, and answers to frequently asked questions. Also included are ideas for practical application throughout the curriculum that will enhance learning and…

This issue of "CQ Researcher" examines the theme of computer networking in the classroom and discusses uses past and present. It begins with an essay by Christopher Conte that discusses: "Does computer networking really enhance learning? Are teachers adequately prepared to take advantage of computer networking? Will computer…

This document is a collection of four papers dealing with the issues of technology in higher education, distance education, and assessment practices. The first paper, "Integrating the Internet into Distance Education in Accounting at Charles Sturt University: An Assessment of Potential" (Jayne E. Bisman), explores the impact of the…

The year 1997 is seeing rapid-fire technological change, the likes of which few ages in history have seen. The popular concern in the academy is the utilization and ubiquity of the Internet in classroom and administrative functions. With ever increasing regularity, universities are relying on online resources, such as Internet syllabi, course…