Research from a survey of students in higher education institutions in the Western Cape has demonstrated that despite the difficulties being experienced in terms of access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in higher education, students report that they do indeed use computers for their learning. In this paper we explore the…

This article relates the story of one California school district that is making laptop ownership for students a reality, despite the overwhelming financial burden. In January 1996, Clovis Unified School District found itself in a situation familiar to many districts. Fresh from a conference in Redmond, Washington, sponsored by Microsoft and…

Many universities in the UK have recently started offering their staff and students free wireless Internet access through Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technologies, such as Wi-Fi. Based on a small empirical study of WLAN deployment in a university setting, the article explores adoption processes of the new technology by both the organisation…

Student computer laboratories are provided by most teaching institutions around the world; however, what is the most effective layout for such facilities? The log-in data files from computer laboratories at a regional university in Australia were analysed to determine whether there was a pattern in student seating. In particular, it was…

Chances are that many high school students would not know how to use drafting instruments, but some might want to gain competence in computer-assisted design (CAD) and possibly computer-assisted manufacturing (CAM). These students are often attracted to tech courses by the availability of CAD/CAM instructions, and many go on to impress employers…

The effect of an inability to purchase computers for home use and a lack of computers and instruction at public schools has had on the ability of Hispanic students to develop technology skills related to computer and Internet use is discussed. This article asks if the nation's emphasis on technology in schools has hindered Hispanic access to…

This article reports on a project that explores strategies for narrowing the digital divide by providing a practicable e-learning option for the millions living outside the ambit of high performance computing and communication technology. The concept is introduced of a "learning computer," a low bandwidth tool that provides a simplified,…

In this article, the author reports how Maine has started to put laptops in the hands of all its middle school students. Today, more than half of Yarmouth, Maine's 435 students and all of its teachers have their own Apple iBooks as part of a statewide effort that has put laptops into the hands of every 7th and 8th grader in Maine. As computers…

Public access to the Internet and computers is transforming public libraries into de facto e-government access points, for such disparate services as disaster relief, Medicare drug plans, and even benefits for children and families. This new role for public libraries is not just user-initiated. Government agencies now refer people to public…

Do teachers use technology in their teaching? Why? What happens when they do? Why don't more teachers use technology? How do teachers learn about technology? Are prospective teachers being prepared to use technology before entering the classroom? Which factors influence implementation of technology across schools and districts? What roles do…

Today it is commonplace that computers and technology permeate almost every aspect of education. In the late 1960s, though, the idea that computers could serve as a catalyst for thinking about the way children learn was a radical concept. In the early 1960s, Seymour Papert joined the faculty of MIT and founded the Artificial Intelligence Lab with…

The Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness, Committee on Education and the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives met at 10:33 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2001, in Room 2175, Rayburn House Office Building to hear testimony on H.R. 1992, the Internet Equity and Education Act of 2001. Chairman of the Subcommittee, Hon. Howard P.…

This document examines the launch of the Smart Cape Access Project in Cape Town, South Africa. In a city where more than 80 percent of the citizens do not have access to computers and fewer still can access the Internet, public officials set out to build a "smart city," where "informed people could connect to the world and to each other by the…

Studied the perceptions of first and second year college students about their preparedness and technical competence at college entry to use the computer and software applications. Survey responses from 338 students suggest that entering students felt better prepared than second year thought they had been, and that all students make gains over time…

The Education Express, a state-of-the-art mobile classroom, brings computer training to rural training sites in Schuyler, Chemung, and Tioga Counties--the Southern Tier of New York. Clients include nurses, other workers, senior citizens, and GED students, who lack access to such trainings because of financial, time, or distance constraints.…