The digitally marginalised communities are in focus in the EU-funded Rural Wings project 2006-2008. The aim is to identify and analyse the user learning needs in non-connected communities and to meet these needs by providing satellite Internet broadband connections, education and tools. This article reports the findings of the user needs…

The responses of 81 Canadian junior and community college students with disabilities were used to develop and evaluate the Scale of Adaptive Information Technology Accessibility for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities (SAITAPSD). This is an 18-item self-administered tool that evaluates computing accessibility for and by students with various…

Just how much bandwidth does the average student in the United States have access to today, and how much will he or she need in the future? That depends, according to district CTOs, state technology directors, industry experts, and classroom teachers. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 97 percent of U.S. public schools with…

For the last year the authors have been gathering examples of how perceived "threats of security" are hampering the integration of technology in teaching and learning. They hope that educators will examine both the challenges of increased security demands and ways in which security might enhance, rather than detract from, the use of technology for…

The growing use of both computers and the Internet in adult English language classrooms has widespread implications for English language programs. As computer access increases, so do new learning technologies in adult literacy education. Specifically, this paper is interested in the case of adult English language instruction, also commonly…

In an effort to mitigate our field's historic neglect of issues of cultural diversity, this article seeks to introduce Asian-Americans--a fascinating, important, and under-researched group of learners and technology users--to educational technology scholars and practitioners. It describes Asian-Americans' admirable levels of educational…

Turkish science teachers' in-service needs and the effects of teacher and school demographic variables on these needs are examined in this study. In addition, major barriers that prevented science teachers from attending in-service programmes are investigated. The data for the research were gathered through a survey. This study shows that Turkish…

In this article, the authors discuss the importance of building a technological infrastructure and of creating educational opportunities for Native Americans that focus on information sciences in order for them to keep up with quickly changing technologies and to close the information gap, and present a research that focuses on the specific…

The so-called "digital divide"--unequal access to information technology--is one of many social inequalities faced by individuals who are low-income, ethnic minorities, or immigrants. Surprisingly, the digital divide is even larger for young people than it is for adults, with African-American and Latino young people, as well as…

This article focuses on the three-year findings of a parent survey designed to gauge their students' technology interest while receiving instruction from student teachers in a federal educational technology grant. A major objective of the grant was to engage pre-service teachers in a computer technology training program designed to equip them with…

Teenagers' lives are filled with writing. All teens write for school, and 93% of teens say they write for their own pleasure. Most notably, the vast majority of teens have eagerly embraced written communication with their peers as they share messages on their social network pages, in emails and instant messages online, and through fast-paced thumb…

This paper focuses on "digital inequality"--a key mediating issue within the education technology debate. In particular, it examines how the social and cultural resources of young people relate to their usage behaviour within the informal space of the Internet and what options are available to counter this digital inequality in terms of…

This report summarizes the presentations of 35 professionals from diverse sectors of society working on different aspects of the digital divide. Various uses of technology have been supported over the past decade to improve outcomes for low-income groups. This session focused on the issue of technology sustainability in the face of increasing…

This report examines the extent to which the Internet offers information and applications that meet the needs of the estimated 50 million low-income Americans who have limited literacy or language skills, or other special needs. The report discusses the fact that more low-income Americans are going online, large numbers have limited literacy…

To ensure the most effective and up-to-date learning, educators should consider intelligent buildings that meet technological needs and flexibly accommodate change. Virtual schools alter the need for traditional physical facilities. (Contains 15 references.) (SK)