Discusses modem speed, factors affecting performance; phone-line limitations; new options: Interactive Services Digital Network (ISDN) and Digital Subscriber Link (DSL); satellite delivery; cable modems; and choosing the right solution. (PEN)

Offers a brief history of the Dublin Core initiative, an international, interdisciplinary effort to define a core set of elements for resource discovery. Describes outcomes of Dublin Core Workshops 1-4. Discusses outcomes of the Helsinki Metadata Workshop, focusing on the "Finnish Finish" which will form the basis of the first formal…

Studied classroom interventions using a form of multimedia information and communications technology (ICT) in eight year-6 (10 year olds) classes in two English schools. Data show that children become self-directive and exploratory learners in a short period of time, and that they enjoy the freedom and control the ICT system permits. (SLD)

Discusses findings from national surveys conducted from 1995 to 2000 concerning access, community and political involvement, and social interaction of Internet users. Concludes that Internet usage is: becoming more equally accessible and widely used; associated with increased community and political involvement; and associated with significant,…

This article reviews the books, "Virtual Architecture: Designing and Directing Curriculum-Based Telecomputing" and "Design Tools for the Internet-Supported Classroom," both by Judy Harris. The books outline the activity structures and provide information to enable teachers to integrate telecomputing activities in the classroom. Chapter content is…

Offers suggestions about how faculty can incorporate technology into midsemester student feedback, asserting that it gives students more opportunities to provide input. (EV)

Helping students become information seekers, synthesizers, analyzers, evaluators, innovative thinkers, problem solvers, decision makers, producers of knowledge, communicators, and collaborators is one way to create an environment that minimizes cheating, plagiarism, and copyright violations. In such an environment, you may also be able to take…

In April 2003, the government closed all schools for several weeks in Hong Kong to halt the spread of the virus causing Severe Upper Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). In 2004, schools in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia closed down for weeks at a time because of potential terrorist strikes. School leaders need options to continue to provide the educational…

What does it mean to be a citizen in a digital world where technology has facilitated global connections? The children of today are immersed in a digital age, and as increasing numbers of students go online, they require skills to securely and responsibly take full advantage of computers and the Internet. Despite the natural enthusiasm that many…

The provision of a professional development programme for distance tutors can be problematic because of the need for flexibility to cater for a variety of working practices, or to overcome the hurdles imposed by geographical remoteness. At the UK Open University, online networks are widely in use for teaching and learning, and we are actively…

Teacher-Librarians are continually seeking opportunities to collaborate with the classroom teacher. Most of them have experienced the professional satisfaction resulting from a successful project, and they have also endured those that were stressful and less productive than the anticipated. Indeed, the best schools and the best librarians…

This study investigated the effects of interaction devices on the Internet performance of novice older users, and ways to provide appropriate voice assistance to enhance browsing and searching performance of such users. Three experiments were designed and conducted to test three hypotheses. The results indicated that touch screen and handwriting…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that participating in online literature discussions would have on the discourse and learning of adult students. Would electronic literature (e-lit) discussions promote grand conversations? Would students feel that e-lit discussions enhanced their understanding of what they read, and, if so,…

Early views considered computer-mediated discussions (CMDs) to be ideal forums for fostering dialogue because women and other marginalized groups could be equal participants. However, such optimistic views have been tempered by research that found CMD to be dominated by a few individuals, often men, and discourse that is sometimes abusive. The…

This paper reports an investigation of the impact of students cognitive style on their effective use of educational text-based computer-mediated conferences. The research centres on an empirical study involving students from three courses run by the British Open University. Statistical analysis of the data does not suggest that cognitive style has…