This book is an examination of several critical issues and controversies concerning the potential of new information technology (IT) for education. In a series of interrelated essays, the book explores such issues as access, credibility, new approaches to reading and writing, the glut of information, privacy, censorship, commercialization, and…

Struggles over educational access to new communications technologies in the age of U.S. radio and television provide insights into current struggles of educational access to the "information superhighway." Findings from an historical analysis of these earlier periods show that educational access to new communications technologies is…

Through state and regional education networks and commercial providers, the vast resources of the Internet are increasingly available to administrators, school library media specialists, and classroom teachers. This ERIC Digest lists a sample of no cost Internet resources of special interest to K-12 educators (resources and addresses are subject…

This hearing addresses legislative proposals to protect children from inappropriate materials on the Internet. Among the issues discussed are federal investments and information access, defining standards for protection, child pornography and marketing to children, filtering technology and adult verification services, and freedom of speech.…

First sale and fair use are two copyright principles of use in academic libraries that need to be reexamined in an information age offering possibilities of universal access and perfect distribution in the electronic document. Library services that are perhaps most affected by these concerns are in provision of electronic reserves and collections.…

School systems that plan to give their students open access to the Internet need to set up policies which explain and affirm the principles of freedom of speech, freedom to read, and free access to information. A set of Internet rights and responsibilities should be outlined, and the issues of privacy and ethics should be considered. (Author/AEF)

Identified the effects of government information policy on accessibility, use, and users by investigating policy effects on a government agency, Statistics Canada. Presents a case study and discusses bibliometric research on the use of statistics sources, examining Canadian social science journal articles in economics, education, geography,…

Two Internet testbeds conducted at the New York State Center for Technology in Government (CTG) identified five threshold factors that shape a government agency's ability to initiate Web-based services: technical infrastructure, user capabilities, information content, cost, and security. Six kinds of benefits of the Web to deliver government…

Discusses important considerations for library media specialists creating a virtual-resources-collection policy, including selecting the right resources, navigating licensing fees, and free, searchable online sources. A sidebar lists resources for evaluating Web sites and places that lead to recommended sites for students. (AEF)

Discusses the development of a national information policy in Israel. Topics include political climate; security concerns; censorship; lack of openness; progress in the peace process; technical innovativeness; a desire to join the international community; and legislation, including privacy protection, freedom of information, and copyright.…

Focuses on the Turkish educational system, technological developments, and changing educational needs. Discusses instructional technology programs in Turkey; new information technology (IT) policies in Turkey; the World Bank supported "Project for Globalization in Education 2000"; IT policies for teacher training programs; and the…

The Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute (HATII) at the University of Glasgow (Scotland) carried out a study of the opportunities and obstacles posed by the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the heritage sector in order to establish a funding policy. This article discusses the need for national…

This program explores the dangers of landmines as "weapons of mass destruction in slow motion." These hidden killers have been called the "perfect soldier"--never sleeping and never missing--yet kill thousands of people each year, many innocent civilians. The study guide offers questions to use before viewing the video,…

As more government agencies request information and records from colleges and universities, it is important that all institutions establish standard procedures for handling such requests. Administrators should: learn the personality of the particular agency or office making the request; establish a professional, cooperative, non-adversarial…

Maintaining safe schools requires the forging of partnerships to share information between schools and youth-serving agencies, including the police department, court system, youth parole and probation offices, and child protective services. All public elementary and secondary schools are subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act…