Since 1994, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has surveyed public schools to measure what proportion of them is connected to the Internet. In the fall of each academic year, a new nationally representative sample of approximately 1,000 public schools has been surveyed about Internet access and, since 1996, about the types of…

This Strategic Educational Technology Plan for the State of Tennessee responds directly to the U. S. Department of Education's (USDoE) rule that state applications for Title II Part D funding under the No Child Left Behind Act must have statewide long-range strategic technology plans for K-12 education. Guidance from the USDoE Office of Technology…

Handheld computers, sometimes known as PDAs, have been available for purchase since the mid-1990s, as have their handheld relatives, the graphing calculators. It is only in the past few years, however, that these diminutive devices have made their way into K-12 schools in numbers significant enough to allow us to draw conclusions about their…

Discusses educational uses of the Internet in light of experiences with previous implementation efforts for the use of computers in education. Topics include access problems; identifying educationally relevant uses of the Internet; cost effectiveness; funding; and the role, needs, and influence of the teacher. (LRW)

This column explains the National File Format, a proposed voluntary standard for accessible digital instructional materials for students with disabilities. It considers the role of digital materials, difficulties with the present system of disseminating accessible materials, how a consistent file format for digital materials will help, and ways to…

This international and interdisciplinary study investigated and compared computer access, attitudes and perceptions towards computers as well as preferred settings for computer learning among college freshmen in Australia, China Ghana, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Discusses implications for computer training in teacher preparation and international…

Argues that little research has focused on the preparedness of new college students to cope in a technologically driven campus, particularly in community colleges with a large percentage of non-traditional students. Identifies strategies for exposing students to technology during student orientation programs. (Contains 13 references.) (NB)

Presents several key findings from several recent National Center for Educational Statistics reports related national trends in education involving elementary school enrollment, poverty concentration, language minority students, student family characteristics, reading comprehension, academic achievement (math, science, geography), student access…

Researchers studying subject searching distributed an online questionnaire to users who access the University of California's online public access catalog, MELVYL, from public access terminals in the libraries of the University of California at Santa Cruz. This article discusses the results of transaction log analysis, comparison of in-library and…

Discusses the networking of educational services for schools, homes, and communities. Highlights include equal access; the development of digital technologies; visions for electronic information services; the public sector; the private sector; creating learning communities; and future possibilities, including funding strategies. (LRW)

Analyzed responses of 18,844 college students at 71 institutions to the College Student Experience Questionnaire (C. Pace and G. Kuh) to determine whether the presence of computing and information technology influenced the frequency of use of technology and other educational resources and exposure to good educational practice. Results show that…

Although a narrowing gap exists between technology haves and have-nots in public schools, many schools are turning their energies toward discrepancies in teacher training and knowledge, home computer access, technology support, and the availability of quality online curricula and material. Lists eight online resources. (MLF)

Explores the theoretical basis for a mentoring model of professional development addressing technology integration into classroom teaching and learning. Describes the Capital Area Technology and Inquiry in Education (CATIE) Program for elementary schools and discusses situative theories of knowledge and learning, technology planning, access to…

Discusses the digital divide, or inequality in access to computers, and how it affects minority students at home and school. Highlights include home computer ownership and Internet access; technology experiences at school; and a collaborative college program in Florida that helps disadvantaged students prepare for college by teaching them how to…

This study evaluated interfaces (menu-driven, natural language, or hybrid) for using the Computer Access Technology-Knowledge Based Expert System (CAT-KBES), which assists in the selection of appropriate computer access technology for clients with severe visual disabilities. Users (n=19, including 12 with visual impairments) preferred the revised…