This policy report provides a view of the issues concerning the effectiveness of technology in its role to enhance education. This report is intended for use by educational leaders and policymakers who are concerned with making optimal use of technology in the schools. This report: (1) Focuses on issues that need to be considered as the impact of…

Regarding technology-based educational improvement, systemic reform involves two major shifts: including possibilities for "distributed learning"--using information technologies off-campus to enhance classroom activities; and reconfiguring existing budgets to free up money for innovation, instead of relying on special, external…

To avoid underuse, inaccessibility, and obsolescence when choosing, purchasing, and using technology, educators should maximize the number of students sharing machines, build technology into the curriculum, ensure continuous accessibility, network computers, and build physical plant considerations into their purchase plans. A single high-end…

Research suggests that technology is an equivocal blessing. Although it expedites our ability to access, share, manipulate, and display information, it provides little or no guidance regarding the quality, relevance, or timeliness of the information it processes. Teachers must take this responsibility and help students develop their own…

We have conspired, consciously or unconsciously, to create the multimedia environments in our homes and neighborhoods. Educators must create, consciously and cautiously, a similar technologically rich, media-literate learning environment for schools. To accomplish this, they must learn to recognize the "invisible" technologies (in learning spaces,…

There are many barriers to integrating technology in classrooms, including unmotivated teachers, inadequate access, lack of training, and lack of appreciation. Principals can help by providing more administrative support, staff development and technical support, equipment availability, technology-use plans, technology coordinators, appropriately…

Explains the Big6 model of information problem solving as a conceptual framework for learning and teaching information and technology skills. Highlights include information skills; examples of integrating technology in Big6 contexts; and the Big6 and the Internet, including email, listservs, chat, Web browsers, search engines, portals, Web…

Identifies the new literacies of the technological age: technological literacy; visual literacy; information literacy; and intertextuality. Explores a variety of tools available to teachers, such as: digital imaging technologies; World Wide Web based technologies; and global collaborative projects. Provides an example of a teacher who chose a…

Describes how the American Embassy School (AES) in New Delhi, India achieved school-wide technology integration. Discusses development of a new network; beginning to mentor; organizing the Technology Integration Plan (TIP) by software application; implementing the plan; assessing progress; and results, which overall, were positive. (AEF)

Describes the program at Georgia State University's Department of Early Childhood Education that trains teachers to integrate technology into their elementary classrooms. Discusses the International Society for Technology in Education standards; shared vision for the preservice teacher education program; skilled faculty in educational technology;…

States the role of information and communications technology (ICTs) in education is not homogeneous, only some are designed to support learning. Considers the role of ICT in two models of a British science curriculum: (1) based on empirical science; and (2) based on a model of scientific reasoning. (BT)

This special section contains four articles on using technology to improve student financial aid services: (1) "The Technology Pyramid" (advice on the transition from paper to paperless systems); (2) "Strengthening Our Security"; (3) "COD: Moving toward a Universal Delivery System" (about the government's new Common Origin and Disbursement…

Examines three cycles of activities during the multi-year implementation of new student services software at a Masters I public comprehensive college with an enrollment of 12,000. Uses the theoretical framework of transformative leadership. Interpretations and recommendations address organizational issues that can be generalized beyond the…

Outlines several major ethical and social concerns that face an institution in attempting to integrate "cyberspace" into its academic arena. Focuses on American universities, though the issues are relevant for all levels of education in all geographic areas. Discusses major ethical dilemmas that academic use of cyberspace may present. Identifies…

Asserting that students' need to understand and communicate in new electronic media parallels the necessity to know how to write, describes how Grinnell College implemented a long-range project to enable students to accomplish this new literacy. The description of the steps taken over several years provides a blueprint of a collaborative effort…