Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that is written and edited solely by volunteers who have no qualifying credentials save an internet connection. With over 3.1 million articles in English, Wikipedia is indeed a formidable reference web site. From a research standpoint, Wikipedia is both the sinner and the saint: because anyone can make…

Choosing the "right" type of technology, either synchronous or asynchronous, to facilitate learning outcomes is a new challenge as the pace of emerging technologies increases and diversifies. Teachers are encouraged to design courses that require collaboration in online learning communities to facilitate the development of higher order…

Surveys 543 college students to identify their preferred criteria when evaluating Internet-based and library-based sources. Finds (1) students writing research reports (63% of students) ranked easy-to-find sources most highly, whether library-based or Internet-based; (2) nearly 60% of students received library training, most frequently from high…

To enhance the information technology literacy of optometry students, the Southern College of Optometry (Tennessee) developed an academic assignment, the Electronic Media Paper, in which second-year students must search two different electronic media for information. Results suggest Internet use for searching may be a useful tool for specific…

An Internet research project was undertaken by a class of college honors students to see how effectively the Internet could be used for genuine research purposes. The class consisted of 16 students, a mix of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, enrolled in an advanced writing course whose focus was different forms of research: I-Search, ethnography,…

Addresses pitfalls in using the Internet for undergraduate research, including: increased ability to commit plagiarism and academic fraud; difficulties sorting valid, useful information from inaccurate or misleading sources; difficulties searching the Internet; growing confusion between reality and virtual reality; and lack of context for much…

Describes an interdisciplinary group research WebQuest project for middle school students on global warming that was developed to target science and technology content standards for Maine's K-12 performance standards. Discusses technology integration, student research skills, use of Internet information, and cooperative and active learning. (LRW)

This notebook is a compilation of 51 lesson plans for grades K-6 written by various authors and focusing on the integration of technology into the curriculum. Lesson plans include topics such as online versus traditional card catalog, exploring the technology in the media center, electronic encyclopedias and CD- ROMs, using and producing a video…

This notebook is a compilation of 53 lesson plans for grades 6-12, written by various authors and focusing on the integration of technology into the curriculum. Lesson plans include topics such as online catalog searching, electronic encyclopedias, CD-ROM databases, exploring the Internet, creating a computer slide show, desktop publishing, and…