Assistive Technology (AT) helps a person with a physical, cognitive, learning, or speech disability perform tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. There are hundreds of specialized AT devices on the market, but their price tags often prevent their use in elementary science classrooms. Fortunately, affordable technologies "are"…

High school students in Seattle's Global Technology Academy bring refurbished computers to schools and orphanages in developing areas of the world and teach young people the skills they need to advance in an increasingly information-based global marketplace. In 19 trips to date, teams of 5-15 students have taken computers and knowledge to such…

This paper relates to some thoughts about the very different access to communication that those living in developing countries have as compared with those living in developed countries. I advocate using information technology in within my own teaching in Australia, yet from my experiences in developing countries, I know how limited access to any…

The American Institutes for Research was commissioned by the Pew Internet & American Life Project to conduct a qualitative study of the attitudes and behaviors of Internet-using public middle and high school students drawn from across the country. The study is based primarily on information gathered from 14 gender-balanced, racially diverse focus…

Analyzing data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002, this report examines how computer use produced generic benefits for all children and differential benefits for minority and poor children. Computer use at home was compared with computer use at school in relation to the academic performance of disadvantaged children and their peers. The…

The Universal Service Fund, or E-rate, is a landmark funding measure that will change forever the role of technology in K-12 education. The fund allows eligible schools and libraries to purchase networking equipment, telecommunication services, internal connections, and Internet access at substantial discounts. Accompanied by the 3Com E-rate…

This book provides an overview of current applications of technology in education; it is organized in eight chapters covering the following trends. (1) There is near saturation of computers in K-12 schools, while higher education institutions report moderate saturation. Students and teachers have almost universal access to computers, many of which…

Computers have become an essential tool in society. Early exposure to computers may help students gain the computer literacy that will be crucial for future success in the workplace. Access to computers at school and at home allows students to retrieve information, manipulate data, and produce results efficiently and in innovative ways. Examining…

This report summarizes evaluation results of AISD's federally-funded Title II D, Enhancing Education Through Technology Fund for the 2003-2004 school year.

Suggests that "digital differences" is a more appropriate view of the situation facing educators than the concept of the "digital divide." Introduces five principles providing direction for the design and development of technology-enhanced educational activities appropriate to the diversity of students-with-computer-access:…

Explored the relationships among technology, reform, and equality through quantitative studies at an elite private school and an impoverished public school. Although reforms appeared similar, underlying differences in resources and expectations reinforced patterns by which the two schools channel students into different futures. (Author/SLD)

In recent times discussion surrounding the use of computers in early childhood education has emphasised the role computers play in children's everyday lives. This realisation has replaced early debate regarding the appropriateness or otherwise of computer use for young children in early childhood education. An important component of computer use…

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) is pleased to release its sixth annual report on the "Enhancing Education Through Technology" (EETT) program, a component of the No Child Left Behind, Title II, Part D (NCLB IID) Act. The purposes of the NCLB IID program are to: (1) improve academic achievement through…

The challenges to teacher educators in sub-Saharan Africa are acute. This paper describes how the Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa (TESSA) consortium is working within institutional and national policy systems to support school-based teacher professional development. The TESSA consortium (13 African institutions and 5 international…

This keynote address seeks to establish a definition for "instructional technology" that does not emphasize computer hardware and software but instead focuses on human skills, resource management, problem solving, and educational settings. Also discussed are ways in which technology like electronic mail and the world wide web has…