Presents key steps to ensure a productive evaluation of technology use in Head Start programs. Steps include acquiring background information on current technology status in the program and community; agreeing on a framework of roles, responsibilities, and objectives in assessment; identifying the desired accomplishments from educational…

Explores security challenges and practical approaches to safeguarding school networks against invasion. Highlights include security problems; computer viruses; privacy assaults; Internet invasions; building a security policy; authentication; passwords; encryption; firewalls; and acceptable use policies. (Author/LRW)

An educational technology program needs a conceptual foundation with several critical pillars, including shared leadership, collective vision, a holistic approach, relevant curricula, new pedagogies, staff training, noncomputer technologies, software and technical supports, flexible facilities, multilevel support, long-term commitment, and ongoing…

Successful technology training for teachers begins with careful design of a staff development program, and must involve teachers in decision making. Time, access, and on-site support are critical for success, as are clear and relevant objectives for lesson plans, materials, and curriculum guides. (JKP)

Outlines benefits of integrating optical instruments in computer-based instructional systems in a science classroom including budget, immediacy, pictorial records, and graphic enhancement. Presents examples of investigative activities involving optical instruments and images digitized for computer-based manipulation. (JRH)

Describes the CIStudio (Chemical Information Studio), a one-credit undergraduate chemistry course at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Focuses on the integration of electronic and print sources of chemical information, especially Internet-accessible reference and database services. Discusses administrative, instructor, and student issues involved.…

Reports a study that examined the attitudes, experiences, and skills of students entering a typical introductory college computing course. Survey data indicated that students had generally positive attitudes toward computers. Computer anxiety was greater among females. Most students viewed themselves as moderately competent with computers. (SM)

Examines possibilities for learning offered by a piece of software, Fonctuse, likely to encourage the linking of algebraic and graphical representations of functions. Studied the influence of prior algebraic knowledge on the cognitive processes and constructions of knowledge at play in this environment. (Author/MKR)

Explains the process involved in publishing on the World Wide Web in four steps: (1) how to find an Internet service; (2) how to learn a programming language; (3) how to design a web page; and (4) how to advertise it. (TB)

Interactive videodisc controlled via hypermedia has the potential to create a virtual world in which novice teachers can experience and reflect upon problems of practice. This article describes case materials being used with elementary teacher preparation programs to provide a "field experience" with exemplary science teachers.…

Reports on the use of a HyperCard-based tool by preservice teachers to create and modify concept maps about science- related subject matter. Data gathered from interviews, journals, and concept maps indicate that the concept-mapping tool was easy to use and allowed teachers to organize their cognitive frameworks into more powerful integrated…

The president of Pennsylvania State University (PSU) identifies five areas of technology that institutions of higher education must address: connectivity, curriculum, cost, competition, and collaboration. Examples are from PSU, with additional comments from the presidents of the University of Michigan, New York University, Northern University…

Describes the online distance education efforts of Salish Kootenai College (Montana) which is using inexpensive software and a staff of three people to provide 50 courses to several hundred students. Emphasis is on traditional values, including service over profit, collaborative learning, spirituality, creative thinking, and problem solving. (DB)

Reports on a study of 267 primary children in five schools in South and Mid Wales. Examines their use of information and communications technology (ICT) in school and at home using a combination of interview and questionnaire data. Data reveal that although the vast majority of children are making some use of computers in schools, patterns of…

Discusses teaching display and presentation skills by incorporating it into an interdisciplinary computer, math, and science lesson on graphing and collecting data which reinforces problem-solving skills and develops students' abilities to graph and interpret data. (ASK)