Discusses the need to acquire a new culture that sees distance education as a further opportunity rather than as an alternative to face-to-face education. Suggests the need for educational mediators in continuous and distance education and proposes a program for training mediators based on the Metafore Project. (LRW)

Discusses the notion of community, describes communities of practice, and considers community initiatives on the Internet. Suggests that social aspects need to be considered and that virtual communities are effective when used as add-ons to already existing social structures, not as stand-alone initiatives. (Author/LRW)

Examines college student attitudes toward laptop computers and the impact that laptops are having on higher education. Compares laptop ownership to traditional computer lab use; gives examples of colleges that have laptop programs; and discusses laptop use and attitudes at Zayed University (United Arab Emirates). (Author/LRW)

This interview with Bela Banathy, a leader in educational technology, discusses educational background; instructional technology and instructional systems; mentors; current directions in the field; expansionism; the International Systems Institute; the information age; and new paradigms of instructional theory. (LRW)

Explains the University of Minnesota Learning Software Design Competition, focusing on its goals and emphasis on innovation. Describes the review process to evaluate and judge the software, lists the winners, identifies a new class of educational software, and outlines plans for future competitions. (Author/LRW)

Describes experiences as judges at the University of Minnesota Learning Software Design Competition. Highlights include criteria for judging; an overview of some of the software programs; and the future of learning software, including Internet delivery, emphasis on visual and three-dimensional problem-solving environments, rich learning…

Describes the development of "Alien Rescue," a hypermedia-based program designed to engage middle school students in solving a complex problem related to the solar system and that has a science fiction premise. Discusses planning; producing and testing; theoretical influences on the design methodology; and trends in educational software design.…

Discussion of inquiry and technology within elementary and secondary school science curriculum focuses on WISE (Web-Based Inquiry Science Environment) that was developed to provide effective designs for inquiry activities and assessments, technology supports for students and teachers, authoring partnerships to create a library of inquiry projects,…

Discusses design and development issues in creating an interactive Web site for the field of communication disorders. Describes Vocaldevelopment.com, an interactive Web site that provides students, professionals, and parents with audio-recordings of infant vocalizations and information regarding intervention practices for infants and toddlers with…

Explains the history of IMMEX (Interactive Multi-Media Exercises) and its evolution into a Web-delivered, interactive software program, which assesses student understanding of curriculum in K-16 classrooms by tracking its application in real-world, problem-solving scenarios. Discusses performance feedback for teachers and students, and offers…

Describes "Placemark," an online tool for creating and managing Web pages within a school or district Web site. Topics include interviews with teachers to determine their needs, which centered around creating instructional materials and activities; online newsletters for parents; feedback to test the interface; formative evaluation; and design…

Discusses attempts at educational reform and suggests that solutions to educational problems must be based on solid research. Topics include paradigm shifts for performance improvement; the need for new organizational structures; educational policy; programmatic research and development; performance support systems; and the effective use of…

Questions the use of computers in children's education, focusing on the depth of processing involved in the management of information received through mass media and the relation between the person and the environment and the effects of mediated experience. Suggests we need to question when we should use computers for which goals and objectives.…

Explored how a semester-long experience in a technology-rich classroom at Kent State University affected middle school teachers over the last two years in their use of technology in the classroom. Highlights include access to technology; technology utilization; benefits of technology; and impact on teaching style. (Author/LRW)

Discusses electronic learning via the Internet, suggests that simply presenting information to learners may not be the best way for learning to occur, and proposes a social constructivist approach based on Vygotskian theories of learning and situated cognition. Highlights include constructivist learning; constructivist models; and an example of…