This early look at the E-Rate is part of a new initiative, funded by the Department of Education, and is based on an analysis of E-Rate administrative records covering the first two years of program operation, that were linked to detailed national data on all public and private schools and libraries in the U.S. Key findings indicate that public…

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) administered a short survey of public school teachers in 1999 that included items on teachers' use of computers and the Internet. This report draws on that survey to describe teachers' use of education technology in their classrooms and schools, availability of this technology, their training and…

Describes a study conducted at a private college in Malaysia that identified factors that helped learners successfully use information and communication technology in a virtual learning environment. Topics include skills and attitudes of students; awareness of information available on the Internet; access to the Internet; and perceived…

Examines the issue of equal access to educational technology. Highlights include new technology growth, relative wealth and access to educational technology, ethnicity and access, less constructive learning as a result of limited access, school districts with the greatest need, and investing in quality access for future employment. (AEF)

Assessments were made of fourth grade students' attitudes toward computers, their computer vocabulary, and their estimates of classroom access at the end of the academic year 2000. Findings indicate that teachers need sustained hands-on guidance in learning to design and schedule classroom computer activities that both relate to the curriculum and…

Considers the effects of an electronic environment on students and the role of the school library media specialist in student achievement. Topics include how students learn differently as a result of computer access; interactivity in mass media; political aspects of educational technology; and whether technological changes are good or bad. (LRW)

This descriptive research study examined the extent of technology integration in instruction by adult basic education teachers. Teachers are in the earlier stages of integrating technology and are more active in the area of exploration. However, they are not experimenting with the use of technology at the same level and have not been innovative in…

Computers have become an increasingly accepted learning tool in the early childhood classroom. Despite initial concerns regarding the effect of computers on children's development, past research has indicated that computer use by young children can support their learning and developmental outcomes (Siraj-Blatchford & Whitebread, 2003; Yelland,…

This article reviews the research evidence that relates to the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in pre-school settings. While there is widespread agreement that children should be helped to become confident users of ICTs, the literature presents a more qualified picture of potential benefits and barriers. The review…

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…

This article focuses on the social practices of propagating and circulating memes within Internet environments as a significant dimension of cultural production and transmission. Memes (pronounced "meems") are contagious patterns of cultural information that are passed from mind to mind and which directly shape and transmit key actions and…

This theme issue includes four articles on the effective use of computers and electronic technology in education, and on equitable access to educational technologies for Hispanics and other minority groups. "Teachers and Instructional Technology: Wise or Foolish Choices" (Laura Chris Green) describes three unproductive roles for computer…

This report examines the technology gap in low-income communities, assesses the barriers that are slowing the spread of new technologies to the underserved, and describes some of the most promising efforts to produce a more equitable distribution. Chapter 1 of the report discusses what is known about the extent of the technology gap and its…

The revised Arkansas Educational Technology Plan, of the year 2000, is an updated and more detailed plan that is necessary for providing specific help to all levels of the state educational system. The primary focus of the plan is to enhance instruction for higher student achievement through technology and provide a framework to allow this to…

Emerging research suggests that providing personal computers to students, in combination with a constructivist teaching approach, holds promise for significant gains in student achievement. As we begin a process of using one-on-one learning with laptop computers in a large urban district, it is important to share information concerning the design,…