The pervasive popularity of the Internet in the past decade has changed the way many students live and learn, in part, because modern technology has made it possible for learners to access Real-Time Multimedia information on the Internet, or research any topic of interest to them from virtually any computer anywhere in the world. Students can also…

The recent revolution in information technology (IT) has significantly challenged society's perception and thinking about the world in which we live. Because of its many advantages, distance learning has been identified by educators, scholars, academicians, and researchers as one of the most effective ways to improve the quality of learning. This…

This paper explores the possibility of bringing e-learning to African universities through collaborative networks of public-private partnerships. It is envisaged that this approach will solve the dual problem of infrastructural barriers and weak ICT policies. As technology is used more in education, the teachers' roles are increasingly integrated…

The Alaska Department of Educational and Early Development (EED) has developed this five-year educational technology plan based on the recommendations of a taskforce representing education stakeholders throughout the state and has submitted this report to the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education. A state technology…

We see all around us how technology is changing teaching and learning--as it is changing all facets of our lives. We have data that shows technology, depending on how it is used, efficiently and effectively supports student learning and the instructional process. Yet technology is not the end goal--it is but one component in an educational…

Finding a competent technology leader to manage educational technology for a school district can be a daunting task. The technology director plays a vital role in the leadership of instructional technology and related services. This individual is in a position to frame out the vision and direction for how technology can be used in teaching and…

This educational technology plan for South Carolina contains the following sections: (1) statewide progress related to the telecommunications infrastructure, professional development, video infrastructure, administrative infrastructure, and funding; (2) introduction to educational technology concepts, including major components and factors…

Describes strategies for districtwide technology planning, including establishing a technology steering committee; assessing the present state of technology in the district; identifying major components in district-level planning (developing a vision); and measuring success. Sources for sample technology plans are offered, and 10 common problems…

Addresses the need for careful planning and discernment when adopting new educational technology to ensure gains in student performance and to achieve learning goals. Topics include focusing on philosophical commitments and program purposes; challenging claims; testing; reviewing previous experiences; evaluating; and slowing down the purchase and…

Universities face the challenge of being aware of and responsive to continuous, rapid technological change as it affects the institutional mission. To address this challenge, the University of Washington conducted an institution-wide assessment of educational technology. The purpose of this research was to inform the design of technical tools and…

This paper examines the use of instructional technology for college preparation programs. Over the last decade, the proliferation of personal computers and internet access has led to the widespread adoption of instructional technology in all educational sectors. This paper provides a typology of instructional technology specific to college…

Severe reductions in funding coupled with the imperative to measure and report teachers' ability to integrate technology into their practice pose a significant problem for school districts in New Jersey. This study was designed to identify factors that influence teacher use of technology. A review of the literature identified four areas of…

This paper reviews the efforts of the Idaho Council for Technology in Learning to provide consistent and thorough standards for planning for educational technology, presents keys for meeting those standards, and offers suggestions for using these keys to successfully implement and account for planned technology use in the curriculum. The planning…

Discusses school districts' technology plans and the need to look beyond funding for hardware to address more pertinent issues such as integrating technology use into subject and grade-level proficiencies, staff-development programs for technology, technical support, considering technology proficiencies when evaluating teachers, and restructuring…

When focusing school planning efforts around technology, educators may create costly "technocentric" plans that will not necessarily improve learning or increase school-community communication. Internet access is wasted unless students are taught critical-thinking/information-validation skills. Students do not need $2,000 pencils to…