This paper examines the inter-relationship between recent developments in information technology and the planning for the evaluation of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) system. It argues that in the light of radical changes currently taking place in the networked information environment and user expectations, bold strategic…

This report reviews accomplishments of the first year of the 1999-2002 contract funding the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN), an essential component in improvement of California's adult education program. Five chapters on Electronic Communications describe the OTAN web site and provide data on World Wide Web hits and hosts, web…

As K-12 schools connect to the Internet, a new method of communication opens up to educators and their students. This ERIC Digest describes some sample services and resources that are available to the K-12 community by electronic mail over the Internet (resources and addresses are subject to change). Question answering services, electronic…

Needs analysis is often ambiguous, leading to five types of misconceptions: (1) information needs can be easily identified; (2) information is best handled in institutional settings; (3) all information is of potentially equal value; (4) given sufficient information, decisions can be made; (5) information and education are unrelated. (Author/JM)

Discusses technological research efforts by the Research and Development Department of the British Library in the areas of videotex, videodisc, and teleconferencing, noting the videotex service known as Prestel and the department's network project, called BLEND (Birmingham and Loughborough Electronic Network Development). (EJS)

Major Project on Education in Latin America and Caribbean promotes cooperation among countries to organize educational information systems and services. Specific objectives are to ensure that children of school age receive schooling, to eradicate illiteracy and develop educational services for adults, and to improve quality and efficiency of…

Describes several cases in which microcomputers were used to prevent large organizations (e.g., utility companies, U.S. Government Forestry Commission) from carrying out actions considered not to be in the public's best interests. The use of the computers by social activitists in their efforts to halt environmental destruction is discussed. (EAO)

Review of selected studies on use of social science information indicates that social scientists tend to use private sources and informal networks rather than libraries; value of citation studies as guides to library collection building is disputed; and machine access to social science databases is increasing. Eighty references are cited. (EJS)

Discusses trends in computer technology and their use for library catalogs, noting the concept of bandwidth (describes quantity of information transmitted per given unit of time); computer hardware differences (micros, minis, maxis); distributed processing systems and databases; optical disk storage; networks; transmission media; and terminals.…

Examines the capabilities, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility of the Stanford Public Information Retrieval System (SPIRES), an online information retrieval system producing a variety of printed products, and notes its use in the Title I Evaluation Clearinghouse, advantages of SPIRES, programing, and availability. Eleven references and a five-item…

Presents objectives, scope, structure, operations, principal products, and bibliographic services of the Regional Network for Information and Documentation (REPIDISCA) sponsored by the Pan American Health Organization. Planning of a regional document delivery service (basic parameters, microform technology, network procedures, payment,…

Explores interrelationships between education and communication, with emphasis on the structure of information, forms of learning, and potential changes in power structure when strict central programing is instituted. (DB)

A workable rationale for educational innovation should center around nationally and regionally coordinated research, development, and dissemination; a local network of experimental schools linked to regional and national centers; a larger network of dissemination schools for "road testing" innovations; and comprehensive training programs for staff…

Effective interaction among mental health staff members and naturally concerned individuals (e.g., parents, friends, teachers) can be viewed as a network of help in acute crisis intervention circumstances. (MB)