The World Summit on the Information Society will be held in two phases: Geneva, December 10-12, 2003 and Tunis in 2005. The Summit began as an initiative of the 1998 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference when it was recognized that the gap between information "haves" and "have nots" was increasing while at the same time…

Discusses models of home educational computing that are linked to learning in school and recommends the need for research that addresses the home as a computer-based learning environment. Topics include a history of research on educational computing at home; technological infrastructure, including software and compatibility; Internet access;…

Explains the AN-MSI (Advanced Networking with Minority Serving Institutions), an alliance of minority-serving institutions that are working together to reach information technology (IT) parity. Describes partnerships that have been formed to support four main activities: assisting campus leadership in IT planning, network technologies, Internet…

Describes an interdisciplinary seminar that addressed the topic of the "digital divide." Presents examples of how different types of classroom instruction--lecture, computer hands-on, reading, small-group discussion, and final paper--were used to highlight technological barriers, educational barriers, logistical and financial barriers,…

Assesses the status of instructional technology in the United States and projects trends that appear to be taking shape. Highlights include corporate training and development, including the use of technology-based media; higher education, including changes in faculty roles; and elementary and secondary education, including distance education and…

Presents access issues based on three Canadian empirical studies of the use of computer and information technologies by college students with physical, sensory, and learning disabilities. Results of focus groups, interviews, and questionnaires indicated that the majority used computers and the Internet but many needed some type of adaptation to…

Discusses technology and its effects on society and humans, particularly library and information technology. Highlights include the evolving history of technology; and values related to technology in libraries, including democracy, stewardship, service, intellectual freedom, privacy, literacy and learning, rationalism, and equity of access. (LRW)

This column identifies 10 World Wide Web sites for information pertaining to assistive technologies and services for persons with disabilities. Affiliated with the American Association of Higher Education (AAHE), this list is geared for librarians concerned with providing equal access and quality services to their patrons with disabilities.…

Discussion of equitable access to technology and information resources by disadvantaged children focuses on four recommendations from the Milton Hershey School (Pennsylvania): (1) establish regional information and technology collaboratives; (2) increase access to technology; (3) expand partnerships with businesses and universities; and (4)…

Historically, faith-based organizations (FBOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) have been involved in the provision of social services, such as drug treatment, job training, community redevelopment, housing, and education. However, FBOs and CBOs have not often participated in U.S. Department of Education (the Department) grant programs. In…

This case study describes how a high school language arts teacher in a poor border community in southern New Mexico combined technology-based teaching strategies with multicultural elements to ensure learning and equitable access to technology for her minority students. Discusses bilingual and bicultural students, constructivist classrooms, and…

The Internet, a major component of the information superhighway, has great promise for enhancing the capacity of schools to meet new learning and teaching requirements. In the first part of the video, the following six stories are presented showing students engaged in authentic tasks and collaborative learning with students and professionals…

The provision of notetaking services is crucial for most deaf and hard of hearing students at the postsecondary level in classes designed for students with normal hearing. Numerous authors have attested to its importance. Collectively, more deaf and hard of hearing students in mainstreamed postsecondary settings use notetaking services than any…

This paper discusses information gateways and equal access to information. Highlights include: the development of the physical infrastructure of libraries; globalization as it relates to the use of software; Internet controls such as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act; the psycho-social component of libraries; computer literacy and…

Discusses inequity in computer access for African-Americans and Hispanics in urban public schools. Topics include the importance of elementary school for later success; computer technology use by at-risk students; behavior problems and instructional strategies; and the need for sufficient numbers of computers, adequate teacher training, and…