The four projects described here, a selection of those funded by the Annenberg/CPB Project, focus on the use of telecommunication and information technologies as tools for teaching in higher education. All are written by people directly involved in the projects described. The introductory section, "Overview: Issues in Educational…

These hearings focused on a number of bills that, in various degrees, call for new organizational arrangements in the federal government, for a stronger role in technological innovation. The central question addressed was whether the advancement of American technology needs the active participation of the federal government, be it in the currently…

The National Governors' Association Task Force on Technology decided that schools have not generally become more productive through use of technology. Key recommendations center on encouraging educational technology demonstrations in schools, sponsoring research and development, supporting the creation of marketing mechanisms, and encouraging…

Describes changes in management structures on college campuses that have led to the emergence of the position of chief information officer (CIO) to improve information services. The merging of new information technologies with traditional resources is discussed, the responsibilities of CIOs are described, and possible future developments are…

This review of the positive and negative impact of centralization of library collections and services on library staff and quality of services focuses on reference services. The move from decentralized to centralized library services at Louisiana State University is discussed as well as the effect of automation on that configuration. (Author/CLB)

Discusses the problem of differentiating librarianship from other information-related occupations. Several models used to define the concept of information are presented; and the relationships of information to knowledge, information science, library science, and the mission of the academic library are explored. (34 notes with references) (CLB)

Argues that universities are failing to prepare students for responsible citizenship in a world being rapidly changed by biotechnology. Calls for bringing together biology and the social sciences in more core courses. (TW)

Describes the events that led to the establishment of the national policy for informatics in Brazil, which restricts foreign involvement in that nation's computer industry. The governing agencies are described, controversies and debates surrounding the policy are summarized, and the reaction of the American government is discussed. (Author/CLB)

Panel I features two case histories of state government, university, and private corporation cooperation to bring technology to the workplace (Microelectronics Center of North Carolina and Ben Franklin Partnership Program) and presentations about Burlington Industries and General Electric Company investments in technology to save jobs and boost…

This publication is the result of 20 months of work by the members of the U.S. Department of Education's Educational Technology Expert Panel. From September 1998 to April 2000, the Panel met a total of five times to discuss its mandate (i.e., to evaluate educational programs and recommend to the Secretary of Education those programs that should be…

Technologically mediated distance learning can enable school districts to meet the curricular needs of gifted children when neither student numbers nor the local tax base allows for traditional solutions. The issues of access, effectiveness, and encouragement of schools and teachers to use the technology are discussed, focusing on the situation in…

Discussed is the development of studies based on the ethical and value aspects of the interactions between science, technology, and society. Described are the characteristics of these studies and the proposals funded by the Ethics and Values Studies at the National Science Foundation. (KR)

Strategies to help garner community support in school technology growth or maintenance include the following: (1) consider a "current state of technology" report; (2) forget five-year plans; (3) develop annual technology reports; (4) look to your website; (5) seek constructive opportunities to share technology, and (6) show off best examples at…

This report provides a step-by-step look at defining, planning, implementing, operating, and supporting Internet services for library patrons. Experts from the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Public Library share their experiences pioneering a high-speed, graphical Internet service that supports the full range of multimedia materials available across…

Lifelong learning has emerged as a central focus of the European Union's (EU) goal of becoming a knowledge society. Lifelong learning aims to build an inclusive society, to adjust the ways in which education and training are provided, and to encourage and equip people to participate in all spheres of modern public life. Indicators of lifelong…