This paper examines systematic policy formulation as it contributes to the strategic planning process for school technology. Policy affecting school technology exists at three distinct levels that correspond with the three general governmental levels: federal, state, and local. The Policy Formulation Model is a process that can be used to guide…

Discussion of the use of technology in schools focuses on a plan developed by the Nobelsville (Indiana) schools in cooperation with Indiana Bell. Highlights include decision-making criteria for the use of technology; policy; defining responsibilities; coordination; standards; program planning model; curriculum development; management; staff…

This publication is based on work conducted at the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), which serves seven states in the Midwest. Part of the national research and development system administered by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, the regional educational laboratories provide…

In an era of state budget cuts and a tight economy, distributed learning is often seen as a way to address the needs of colleges and universities looking for additional revenue sources. Likewise, budding virtual universities, consortia, and corporate partnerships are now providing new ways for institutions to share resources across campuses. The…

Technology such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a potent force in driving economic, social, political and educational reforms. Countries, particularly developing ones, cannot afford to stay passive to ICT if they are to compete and strive in the global economy. The health of the economy of any country, poor or rich, developed…

This paper reports on a longitudinal, ethnomethodological case study of the development towards flexible delivery of the Botswana Technical Education Programme (BTEP), offered by Francistown College of Technical & Vocational Education (FCTVE). Data collection methods included documentary analysis, naturalistic participant observation, and…

It is difficult to estimate the costs of not writing thorough IT policy. Misuse of IT resources, whether through ignorance or malice, costs money, as do court cases that can result from abuse. Furthermore, a poor university accreditation report caused in part by poor policy documents will likely have an adverse impact on student enrollment. There…

Recent work at infoDev (the World Bank) created a series of Knowledge Maps of what is known and what isn't about ICT use in education. These knowledge maps reveal that, despite a decade of large investment in ICTs to benefit education in OECD countries, and increasing use of ICTs in education in developing countries, important gaps remain in the…

The nation's social agenda for improving education and training has converged with national economic forces (Hornbeck & Salamon, 1991). The emphasis on lifelong learning of the workforce through education, training and development, demands for ever-improving productivity and significant technological advancements have required new tools to…

Over recent years the issue of free and open source software (FOSS) for development in less developed countries (LDCs) has received increasing attention. In the beginning the benefits of FOSS for lower developed countries was only stressed by small groups of idealists like Richard Stallman. Now, however, it is moving into the hands of large…

The Des Moines (Iowa) Independent Community School District Department of Information Management provides leadership and management services for the district in the areas of strategic planning for district improvement, technology, telecommunications, accountability, program evaluation, research, testing/assessment, and student information. This is…

This handbook is intended to facilitate the assessment of technology used to support elementary and secondary education in the United States. It is designed to help decision makers and technology users prepare, collect and assess information about whether and how technology is being used in their school systems. To make assessments that will be…

This study reports on the formulation of educational technology policy in three Illinois K-12 school districts (n=36). Major findings included: (1) educational policy formulation in the districts focused on collecting the objects of technology, such as computers, modems, networks, rather than viewing educational technology as a systematic process…

This report outlines success factors and challenges identified in a study of the educational electronic communications networks in three selected Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) member states (i.e., Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma) and through discussions of the SREB's Educational Technology Cooperative. The report is organized in sections…

The Ministry of Higher Education in the Sultanate of Oman initiated recently a restructuring program for the General Directorate Colleges of Education aiming to replace the existing six colleges with more applied and highly IT assisted institutions. A particular emphasis is directed towards improving the learning methods by developing and…