As educators work to address the challenge of students meeting state standards, alignment of what is tested with what is taught has been identified as a key to successful improvement efforts. This research brief focuses on what research and best practices say about improving alignment between state assessments and district and school curricula. It…

In 1999, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing received a 5-year grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Service Administration to provide online baccalaureate completion courses for RNs (Registered Nurses). At the completion of the first year, all six theory courses were offered online. Clinical courses are offered…

This guide provides examples of how youth service librarians in school and public libraries have responded to their patrons' interest in and need to know about the Internet. Chapter 1, "Instructional Programs," presents creative programs and Web sites that public libraries have developed to teach children and their parents about the…

This proceedings contains 63 papers presented at ASCLITE (Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education) 2001. The focus is on the following themes related to the use of computers in higher education: (1) reflection in and on action, for reflective inquiry, for students, for teachers, for design and…

Institutional, national, and global pressures demand that universities address issues of quality in teaching and learning. The maintenance of existing courses and the imperative to offer new courses online necessitates the development of measures and guidelines that can inform instructional designers and academics. A number of quality guidelines…

Recommendations over a decade ago from the National Institute of Education have led to a paradigm shift in the teaching profession, based on changes in how knowledge is acquired, what role students play, and what purpose faculty members serve in the process. In the old paradigm, knowledge was transferred from faculty to student in what was…

The electronic information age is here, and adults as well as children are using new ways to gather and generate information. Electronics users are writing in hypertext; exploring cyberspace; living in virtual communities; scooping interactively with CD-ROMs and laserdiscs; using File Transfer Protocols to upload and download information from…

This paper begins with a discussion of technology-supported activities to support meaningful learning and planning for a new research agenda. The remainder of the paper is a description of two prototype technology-based assessments developed to help address the dearth of appropriate student learning measures available to inquiry-oriented,…

The use of Web-based and Web-enhanced instruction is growing rapidly. There is much information and discussion surrounding the layout of content on the screen and facilitating communication yet little information is available regarding the students' perception and use of online instruction. It is known that students print information available on…

This paper describes the needs assessment activities that informed the design and development of M.Ed. and post-master's degree courses and programs to be delivered onsite and through distance technology support in rural areas. Two partner school systems participated in the needs assessment with three more currently involved in the programs.…

Focusing on the argument that early childhood education plays a crucial role in children's future success, this guide provides information to educators about development-based education that leads to active and productive learning for children ages 4 through 6. The guide provides examples for planning and organizing classroom environments,…

This paper argues that there is converging evidence for the pedagogical value of planning, repeating, and recycling activities in the language classroom. The paper is divided into three parts. Part one reviews field research done on this topic in Britain and finds some support for the proposition that planning fosters more complex language use and…

This guide is designed to help after-school and in-school programs create and implement high-quality, technology-enriched learning activities. It contains hands-on lessons, worksheets, and sample activities that have proven effective at inspiring young people's curiosity and creativity. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the issues, including…

This paper reports on the development and evaluation of "WoundCare: an Interactive Learning Program for Health Professionals" (trial version). The major goal of this project was to develop an interactive multimedia application that could be used by student nurses to enhance learning related to the assessment and treatment of people with…

This paper describes the development of an interoperable meta-database system--a system of applications using metadata--that is intended to facilitate learner-centered collaboration, access to learning resources, and the fitness of channels of information to the emerging needs of learners at both individual and group levels. Highlights include:…