The introduction of informatics into the national school curriculum in Japan requires changes to educational policy, curricula, methods, facilities, etc. Although the basic functions of the school--i.e., to transmit the culture and to cultivate competencies that will allow a future society to develop--remain unchanged, new technologies change the…

Describes an early childhood program designed to increase children's school success in attaining key math, language, and computer learning concepts and skills. Used home visits, parent training sessions, teacher-parent conferences, a home learning center, and a computer home-loan program to strengthen parent involvement in their child's education.…

Describes a study of preservice teachers that examined the statistical relationships of computer anxiety, computer literacy, equipment familiarity, age, learning style, gender, and teaching area to a teacher's anticipated use of multimedia. Implications for the instructional design of multimedia technology training for preservice teachers are…

Discussion of technological innovations in education focuses on the potentials of the microcomputer as a classroom instructional method. Programing, computer literacy, software applications, and problem solving are suggested as ways to incorporate computers into the curriculum, and examples of applications of computers in elementary and secondary…

Considers the impact of information technology (IT) on children's learning in schools with particular reference to two studies that examined the value of using IT. Discussion includes the difficulties of evaluating IT effectiveness and some explanations for the insignificant impact of IT in the studies. (13 references) (KRN)

Describes a survey conducted for the Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals (ICCP) that examined qualifications and certifications held by information technology (i.e., computer science, information science, information systems, and computer literacy) faculty at two-year and four-year colleges. Continuing education requirements are…

ENLIST Micros, a project designed to improve quality and quantity of microcomputer use in science teaching, is described. Rationale and procedures behind its development; description of the pilot test model; results of the initial field test and an implementation study; description of the revised ENLIST Micros curriculum; and recommendations for…

Use of computers for instruction in public schools in New York City is compared with that in public schools in suburban Westchester County. Survey responses from 90 city and 46 suburban schools emphasize hardware availability, the nature of instructional software, and perceived problems/progress in integrating computers into the curriculum. (SLD)

Considers the computerization of an English-language placement test for delivery on the World Wide Web. Describes a pilot study to investigate potential bias against students who lack computer familiarity or have negative attitudes towards technology, and assesses the usefulness of the test as a placement instrument by comparing the accuracy of…

Suggests that in an era of increasingly universal computer literacy and quickly developing technologies, information professionals must be able to determine current needs and learn new skills and applications to supply them. Illustrates, through a real-life model, how the library's utilitarian base is well suited to the Web and how there is no…

A study of the Wimmera (Victoria, Australia) Adult Literacy and Basic Education Group (WALBEG) surveyed 30 participants to identify reasons people undertook courses, assess the impact of WALBEG programs on the individual and on the community, and investigate possible use of new learning technologies in future delivery of adult programs. (CDS)

Discusses the need for colleges to develop strategies for integrating information technology and allocating appropriate funds, and describes a study at Temple University that investigated student and faculty computer literacy and experience in the College of Allied Health Professions. Results of questionnaires were also used to identify faculty…

Compared beginning educational computer user's beliefs about classroom computing before and after completing one of three types of introductory computer courses. Stages of Concern survey data indicated that each course had the desired effect on teachers' attitudes. All three groups became aware of educational computing and were not concerned with…

Gives an introduction to three articles addressing the potential value of a network of after-school computer clubs called the Fifth Dimension. The articles demonstrate improvements in computer literacy (near transfer), ability to understand arithmetic and word problems (medium transfer), and reading and mathematics achievement (far transfer). (AEF)

Examines the effects of participation in the Fifth Dimension after-school computer program on far transfer achievement in the subject areas of reading and math. Provides evidence that children who participate in the Fifth Dimension master knowledge and skill structures and acquire practices that mediate their performance on global measures of…