This document contains the following papers on issues related to telecommunications and online learning in graduate and inservice teacher education: (1) "Using Qualitative Research Methods To Study Preservice Teachers' Use of a Computer Conference" (Douglass J. Scott); (2) "Interaction and Collaboration among Teachers: On the Use of a Knowledge…

Traces the recent growth of technology in society and education, raising concerns stemming from viewing technology as inherently good. Discusses the importance of interrogating technology for long-term ethical, economic, and pedagogical deficits and for ways that change, growth, and competition ultimately favor privileged society and overlook the…

Argues that dental schools are the logical location for development of valid, reliable, and acceptable health services research methods and databases, and describes development of an insurance claims database to demonstrate the types of research possible, as well as weaknesses and shortcomings of pure administrative data. Considers implications…

Defines the digital homeless as those middle-aged persons running schools, businesses, and the country who are lacking in computer and technology skills and uses. Describes the efforts of the American Technology Honor Society (ATHS), a student group whose mission is to share technological knowledge with peers, teachers, administrators, and the…

An analysis of 79 K-12 Internet projects revealed seven common activities: pre-project activities; gathering information; sharing and communicating; data integration; constructing products; evaluating products; and demonstrating/teaching. Discussion includes learning models scaffolded and project difficulties/successes. (AEF)

Outlines a science curriculum reform effort aimed at enabling students to collect original data concerning an environmental parameter such as water quality on a yearly basis. Students track the overall health of the stream by analyzing both biotic and abiotic factors. (DDR)

Examines critical issues in distance education. Discusses three stages in the retraining of students; retraining of faculty, including establishing and maintaining effective interaction, motivating students, adapting the syllabus, and using technology to teach; and redesign of course content. (AEF)

The InternNet Project examined applications of Internet resources to preservice development. Secondary interns were trained to use e-mail for communicating with faculty and maintaining an ongoing dialog. Analysis of e-mail traffic and content of clinical interactions with e-mail found that the social environments of electronic communication…

Discusses problems with the use of technology, especially the Internet, for providing inservice teacher education. Highlights include the gap between available technology and the expertise to use it; antiquated hardware; the rapid growth and acceptance of the World Wide Web and graphical browsers; and the expertise gap between rural and urban…

Presents findings from 55 team portfolios representing the field experiences of 285 preservice teachers grouped into teams to present technology-supported lessons in K-12 classrooms. Results indicated that preservice teachers were surprised at the disparity between educational technology practice in contemporary classrooms and their preconceived…

A study of 522 university students identified variables related to library anxiety: use of computerized indexes and online facilities, gender, year of study, native language, frequency of library visits, number of library skills courses undertaken, and reasons for using the library. Recommends measures to reduce library anxiety. Includes a…

Outlines basic steps for using computer technology to make band concert recordings. Current technology allows for the production of professional sounding concert recordings at a fraction of their previous cost. Discusses various equipment options, the production process, mixing and editing, and copyright protection. (MJP)

A finding that environmental educators are eager to accept Virtual Reality (VR) as a teaching tool prompts two responses: one claims that students cannot critically analyze VR information to determine what is relevant because the VR programmer has already done that; the other points out that corporate propaganda taints the technology and that…

To examine the effects of introducing portable computers into secondary schools, a study was conducted regarding information technology skills and attitudes of staff and eighth grade students prior to and after receiving individual portable computers. Knowledge and use of word processing, spreadsheets, and database applications increased for both…

Since the early 1980s, the drive for educational equity has fueled school high-tech purchases. A common theme emerges: schools need money to buy up-to-date equipment and software and to pay for teacher training and technical support. Careful planning can ensure that educational technology is implemented in high-payoff areas, such as serving…