In the Western Gregorian Calendar, the date of Easter Sunday is defined as the Sunday following the ecclesiastical Full Moon that falls on or next after March 21. While the pattern of dates so defined usually repeats each 19 years, there is a 0.08 day difference between the cycles. More accurately, the system has a period of 70 499 183 lunations which is about 5 700 000 years: more details are at astro.nmsu.edu/~lhuber/leaphist.html. This website also provides one version of an algorithm,...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Computer Uses in Education, Mathematics Instruction, Educational Technology,...
Computers have been in schools and indeed some mathematics classrooms for more than 35 years. Some schools have chosen to centralise their computers in laboratories, while others have a mix of configurations and networks. Whatever the case, how extensive has been the classroom use of computers for teaching and learning in mathematics? What has their presence added to the classrooms and the learning experiences of students? What effect has there been on the pedagogy of teachers in this time? How...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Mathematics Instruction, Computer Software, Teacher Educators, Online Courses,...
The core purpose of this paper is to draw together research issues and concrete problems with the use of multimedia technology at the graduate level in higher music education by examining one university's responses to the challenges posed by the use of multimedia technology as a teaching and learning aid for music education. Between June and July 2006, this study conducted a simple questionnaire and interview survey of 16 postgraduate students. The results suggest that music students are...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Foreign Countries, Student Attitudes, Learning Motivation, Educational Technology,...
The aim of this study is to provide information on the purposes, structure and operation of the process of supervision in the Turkish educational system. In this paper, the historical development of supervision services in the Turkish educational system, as well as the purposes and principles of educational supervision in Turkey and the structure of supervision in the Turkish educational system are defined. Moreover, the organization of sub-systems of the Ministry of National Education and that...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Foreign Countries, Supervision, Educational Development, Educational Technology,...
This exploratory study investigated the perceptions of technology and academic decision-makers about open source benefits and risks versus commercial software applications. The study also explored reactions to a concept for outsourcing campus-wide deployment and maintenance of open source. Data collected from telephone interviews were analyzed, emergent themes identified, and a model of differentiators of open source versus commercial software was created, which was then used to evaluate...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Research Opportunities, Educational Technology, Risk, Computer Software, Decision...
The purpose of this study is to critically examine teachers' and their students' views about technology integration in schools focusing on the following questions: (1) What are students' perceptions about technology integration in schools?; (2) What are teachers' views about using technology in teaching and learning?; and (3) What do teachers say about the "oversold, underused" phenomenon of technology in schools? Data were collected from 15 secondary mathematics and science teachers...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Student Attitudes, Educational Technology, Technology Integration, Science Teachers,...
This paper investigates the questions and considerations that should be discussed by administrators, faculty, and support staff when designing, developing and offering a hybrid (part online, part face-to-face) degree program. Using two Web questionnaires, data were gathered from nine instructors and approximately 450 students to evaluate student and instructor perceptions and opinions of hybrid instruction and activities. In comparison to prior research, the results of this study offer larger...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Technology, Distance Education, Program Development, Curriculum...
Many schools are initiating projects that place laptop computers into the hands of each student and teacher in the school. These projects entail a great deal of planning and investment by all involved. The teachers in these schools are faced with significant challenges as they prepare for teaching in classrooms where every student has a computer. Using the Concerns-Based Adoption Model of change, this study investigated the concerns of teachers in the early stages of a one-to-one laptop...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Environment, Computers, Adoption (Ideas), Teacher Attitudes, Educational...
This empirical research study addresses the issues of new teacher development and the role of the institutional context on new teachers' instructional technology use. The study examines two first year teachers, their development during their initial year of classroom experience, and how the institutional context they entered affected their instructional decisions about technology use with students. Results underscore the challenges many beginning teachers face and how those challenges affect...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Beginning Teachers, Elementary School Teachers, Technology Uses in Education, Context...
This study investigates how inservice teachers constructed new knowledge, the extent of knowledge construction achieved, and how instructors participated in and facilitated the online discussion to affect knowledge construction. One finding is that most inservice teachers seemed to favor discussion activities at the stage of knowledge confirmation rather than knowledge construction. Another finding is that some facilitation approaches used by the instructors when serving as both facilitator and...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Computer Mediated Communication, Inservice Teacher Education, Teacher Role, Online...
This study investigated the effect of group discussions and question prompts on students' vicarious learning experiences. Vicarious experiences were delivered to 65 preservice teachers via VisionQuest, a Web site that provided examples of successful technology integration. A 2x2 factorial research design employed group discussions and question prompts as independent variables and students' perceptions of their competencies and self-efficacy for technology integration as dependent variables....
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Technology, Technology Integration, Self Efficacy, Preservice Teachers,...
The purpose of this research study was to develop a theory-based methodology for exploring instructional computer use by faculty members in one College of Education (COE) and implementing this methodology at an Anatolian university in Turkey. Rogers' (2003) Diffusion of Innovations theory was used as the theoretical framework in the process of instrument development, data collection, and in the interpretation of the results. The faculty members in the study reported low levels of use and...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Foreign Countries, Methods, Faculty Development, Educational Technology, Schools of...
A variety of barriers relating to resources, institutional and administrative policies, skills development and attitudes can hinder the effectiveness of technology professional development resulting in underutilized technology resources and lack of integration of those resources within instruction. Multiple methods were used to evaluate the effectiveness of a long-term professional development academy intended to address those barriers and promote increased use of technology in the academy...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Technology Integration, Self Efficacy, Professional Development, Educational...
This case study investigated the job responsibilities of district-level instructional technology specialists that related to curriculum work and the perceptions the specialists had concerning their job responsibilities and their relationship to curriculum work. Data were collected through document analysis, shadowing, interviews, and a focus group. A framework of curriculum themes and categories was created, which was then used to define instructional technology work. Instructional technology...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Focus Groups, Educational Technology, Specialists, Case Studies, School Districts,...
The following paper is based on a review of 68 referred journal articles that focused on introducing technology to preservice teachers. Ten key strategies emerged from this review, including delivering a single technology course; offering mini-workshops; integrating technology in all courses; modeling how to use technology; using multimedia; collaboration among preservice teachers, mentor teachers and faculty; practicing technology in the field; focusing on education faculty; focusing on mentor...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Statistical Analysis, Technology Integration, Program Descriptions, Journal Articles,...
This study is aimed at assessing the state of Philippine secondary school physics education using data from a nationwide survey of 464 schools and 767 physics teachers and at identifying challenges for substantive improvements. Teacher-related indicators revealed academic qualification deficiency, low continuing professional involvements, substantial physics teaching experience, and good licensure status. Academic environment indices revealed that the number of physics classes per teacher is...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Foreign Countries, Teacher Education, Instructional Materials, Educational...
Given the financial constraints facing U.S. schools and the expense of cutting-edge technology, partnerships between schools and corporations that specialize in technology are becoming more vital in the quest to remain competitive in today's educational market. Schools can benefit from these partnerships by receiving the latest hardware and software, and corporations benefit from increased profits. To find out exactly what (besides money) matters when principals engage in technology...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Computer Software, Guidelines, Educational Technology, Corporations, Principals,...
Two and a half years ago, the author relates how their middle schools embarked on a student laptop initiative that began as a pilot program and has continued to develop into a model for successful technology integration. Although they entered uncharted waters as far as laptop technology is concerned, there were some known principles that have guided them to success. The author also relates how they knew that truly successful technology integration would require a pedagogical focus rather than a...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Middle Schools, Pilot Projects, Technology Integration, Educational Technology,...
Reliable information on emerging technologies for learning is as vital as it is difficult to come by. To meet this need, the International Society for Technology in Education organized the Emerging Technologies Task Force. Its goal is to create a database of contributions from educators highlighting their use of emerging technologies to support teaching and learning. The database is online, and the demographics that are collected include grade level, size of district, and type of network...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Elementary Secondary Education, Information Sources, Educational Technology,...
For the last year the authors have been gathering examples of how perceived "threats of security" are hampering the integration of technology in teaching and learning. They hope that educators will examine both the challenges of increased security demands and ways in which security might enhance, rather than detract from, the use of technology for learning. Although security measures appear to be well grounded, there is increasing evidence that many policies being imposed by...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Technology Integration, Educational Technology, Computer Security, Computer Uses in...
In this article, the authors introduce International Society for Technology in Education's (ISTE) Technology Facilitation (TF) and Technology Leadership (TL) standards and offer suggestions as to how these standards might be used to improve the performance and professional status of instructional technology specialists in the field. In fall 2001, ISTE partnered with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) to publish the TF and the TL standards. The TF standards are...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Professional Recognition, Technology Integration, Educational Technology, Elementary...
Online learning is the fastest growing segment of educational technology, for both the best and worst of reasons. The promise of delivering student-centered education, anytime, anywhere, at any pace provides the best reason. Online learning certainly has the potential to finally deliver on these promises. The temptation to replace highly skilled professionals with scripted, mass delivered "content" as a means of reducing costs and/or maximizing profits is a contender for the worst...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Online Courses, Educational Technology, Scoring Rubrics, Educational Policy, School...
Jerome Burg, after 34 years of teaching, left his own classroom last year and now helps other teachers integrate technology into the curriculum at Granada High School in Livermore, California. One new project he designed is heightening global interest in literary road trips by creating a resource that combines a new technology with a time-tested instructional approach. Google Lit Trips harnesses Google Earth as a powerhouse teaching tool for literature studies. The interactive Web-based...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Technology, Teachers, Technology Integration, High School Students,...
The field of educational technology is under external pressure to provide evidence of identifiable learning outcomes that can be attributed to technology. Leaders within the educational technology research community agree about the importance of such evidence. Each year, ISTE and the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE) cosponsor a National Technology Leadership Summit (NTLS) to consider such issues. One goal is to proactively facilitate needed research that will...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Information Technology, Educational Technology, Outcomes of Education, Pedagogical...
As changes in federal funding spell the end of the network of Regional Technology in Education Consortia (R*TEC), the authors, who are staff members of the Advanced Learning Technologies project at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning, discuss resources left in R*TEC's wake. Many of these resources are still available and can be a great asset to anyone struggling to integrate technology into their classrooms. An easy way to find one of the more than 200 R*TEC resources that...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Technology Integration, Educational Technology, Computer Uses in Education, Access to...
Given the power of instructional technology and the ubiquitous nature of technology in society and the workplace, what are the social implications associated with teachers' decisions to use, or not use, technology to enhance teaching and learning? Despite current U.S. educational goals and the documented effect of the achievement gap, little attention has focused on critical issues associated with the use of instructional technology as a social justice tool. This article explores the social...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Technology, Justice, Social Values, Teaching Methods, Computer Attitudes,...
This paper, the first of a two-part article, addresses ways that project-based learning is being used in countries around the world. It introduces Microsoft's worldwide K-12 education initiative, Partners in Learning, and provides some background as to why Microsoft is interested in developing project-based learning curricula for teachers to help them better integrate technology into learning and teaching. Through Partners in Learning (http://www.microsoft.com/partnersinlearning), Microsoft has...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Elementary Secondary Education, Foreign Countries, Educational Technology, Technology...
It is too easy for teachers and library media specialists to entangle themselves in the multiple strands of standards: State core curriculum content standards, National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS.S), National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS.T), and the Information Literacy Standards (ALA). To prevent teachers from drowning professionally in this vast sea of accountability, the author presents an exercise that untangles the standards and helps...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Curriculum Design, Core Curriculum, Teaching Styles, Teacher Characteristics,...
Educators often reject cell phones in the classroom, considering them destructive and distractive "toys." As a former technology coordinator, the author used to think cell phones were harmful for the classroom environment. Over time, she has come to realize that cell phones are part of the students' everyday existence. Today, students use cell phones to communicate and collaborate with the world around them. In this article, the author proposes that cell phones can be learning tools....
Topics: ERIC Archive, Toys, Telecommunications, Classroom Environment, Multimedia Materials, Technology...
From the time that computer technology became part of the school environment, teachers have been encouraged to integrate technology into their instructional practices. Why not use such valuable tools to extend professional development practices as well? This is a question that the authors raised while working together on digital video staff development training for faculty at Georgia State University. The authors try out some of their ideas and processes by mentoring Jaime Weingart, a...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Mentors, Video Equipment, Computers, Educational Technology, Beginning Teachers,...
Standards are a reality in all academic disciplines, and they can be hard to measure using conventional methods. Technology skills in particular are hard to assess using multiple-choice, paper-based tests. A new generation of online assessments of student technology skills allows students to prove proficiency by completing tasks in their natural environment, are self-correcting so they save teacher time, and quickly and easily report scores. This article discusses five online technology...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Computers, Educational Technology, Case Studies, Federal Legislation, Pretests...
Digital media is a great multidimensional communication tool because it combines images, text, sound, and animation. For students to be effective communicators in the 21st century, they need to be sophisticated in expressing ideas with multiple communication technologies, not just the written word. Digital storytelling allows students to use multimedia tools in a sophisticated fashion while capturing the joy of creating and sharing their stories. In this article, the author offers tips on how...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Story Telling, Multimedia Materials, Teaching Methods, Educational Technology,...
During the 2004-2005 school year, Community Consolidated School District 146, in Tinley Park, Illinois, embarked on a journey to become more familiar with the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS). This journey culminated with the launch of a comprehensive WebQuest for third graders about the American Revolution. The detail that sets this WebQuest apart from most is that it was written by a team of seventh graders. What started as a shot in the dark has transformed into an...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Technology, Grade 7, Grade 3, Learning Experience, Consolidated Schools,...
Today, school administrators face many challenges. These include pressures to increase all students' achievement in core content areas and to prepare students to be technology literate. In addition to these academic needs, principals are concerned for the security and safety of their students and ultimately seek to provide a positive school climate conducive to learning. Administrators in Michigan have pulled together in a statewide effort to meet these challenges with the help of technology....
Topics: ERIC Archive, Academic Achievement, Leadership, Accountability, Educational Improvement,...
Every school that attempts to integrate technology into its curriculum knows that this effort consumes dollars in the school budget and hours of teacher time. School leaders invest in these resources because they believe that technology can help address meaningful learning problems. Yet, in many cases, their beliefs about the potential of technology are primarily supported by anecdotal evidence. The authors believe that schools should do a better job of providing rigorous research that...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Learning Problems, Technology Integration, Educational Technology, Teacher Educators,...
This article discusses an issue which is important to technology leaders and for educational leaders as a whole--communications. Clearly if one is to be asked about the importance of effective communications, he would list it near the top of his priorities. However, inevitably when stakeholders are polled about areas where they want their leaders to improve, communication shows up near the top of their concerns. To that end, the author explores some practical ways one can tackle this issue in...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Information Management, Communications, Leadership Effectiveness, Instructional...
Ever since technology became a major component in education, schools have been charged with teaching and integrating technology to enhance learning and ensure technology literacy. However, there is still no consistent definition, process, or assessment in place, leading to concerns about accountability. Because technology standards are seemingly arbitrary and open to multiple interpretations, each school district, each school, and even each teacher will have to develop their own definition,...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Industry, Federal Legislation, Technology Integration, Educational Technology,...
There is a high incidence of today's gifted students independently interacting with their global community through technology tools. Teachers of the gifted (GT teachers) must possess an understanding of technology processes and concepts in order to engage their students through instructionally meaningful and appropriate lessons. Although many educators would like to use technology tools as an instructional medium, two obstacles prevent GT teachers from integrating technology into the...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Academically Gifted, Educational Technology, Technology Integration, Computer...
From an Invitational Education perspective, e-learning will only succeed as an educative environment if educators are able to provide an e-learning environment that preserves dignity and encourages communication. The converse: using an online environment to "throw information" at students has the opposite effect; it is experienced as deeply disinviting. This article identifies some of the more common disinviting practices currently being experienced by learners who are new to an...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Online Courses, Distance Education, Computer Uses in Education, Educational...
The author explores current efforts by educators and policy makers to harness the power of educational technology for both assessment "of learning" and assessment "for learning" in K-12 classrooms. (Contains 1 figure.)
Topics: ERIC Archive, Elementary Secondary Education, Educational Technology, Academic Achievement,...
The purpose of this study was to survey universities that have teacher-preparation programs for teaching students with visual impairments and deaf-blindness to determine how assistive technology training is integrated into the programs' curricula. The survey investigated how the knowledge of assistive technology is addressed (whether in specific courses or by embedding the content throughout the program), what content areas are discussed, and to what extent specific assistive technologies are...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Technology, Visual Impairments, Assistive Technology, Teacher Education...
This research, conducted with an introductory sociology class at the University of British Columbia during the 2001-2002 academic year, explored community service-learning as a pedagogy and philosophy. The theoretical focus of this paper is Nancy Fraser's (1997) criticisms of Jurgen Habermas' (1992) bourgeois liberal model of the public sphere. We analyzed the class experiences with community service that emerged from students' contributions to a database of community organizations, concept...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Foreign Countries, Course Evaluation, Sociology, Concept Mapping, Community...
This article describes how students learn invaluable job-readiness and academic skills by setting up and running their own businesses in a virtual world. Virtual Enterprises (VE) International is a high school career and technical education (CTE) program that teaches students about business by having a class create and operate its own virtual firm. In the VE network, there are many different types of firms--including law offices, insurance companies, specialty bicycle shops, and even a hotel in...
Topics: ERIC Archive, High Schools, Educational Technology, Vocational Education, Active Learning, Student...
This study investigated teachers' attitudes towards proofs in the secondary school mathematics curriculum. The study was motivated by a desire to fill a gap existing in the literature in relation to teachers' attitudes towards proofs. Thirty-four secondary school mathematics teachers' responses to a Likert type questionnaire and interviews were summarised using the five themes of utility, positive attitudes, methods of proof, negative attitudes, and suitability of level of students to perform...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Secondary School Mathematics, Negative Attitudes, Foreign Countries, Mathematics...
During the fall 2005 semester, an eighth grade teacher in a Laramie, Wyoming, middle school made an urgent plea for more progressive tools for a beginning computers course. Janet Johnson, a veteran teacher returning to the classroom after a hiatus of 10 years, was frustrated with the apparent lack of motivation and engagement by the students. She knew the existing curricular materials were outdated and "mind numbing" and was seeking methods more relevant to this generation. In...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Video Games, Pilot Projects, School Districts, Grade 8, Middle School Students,...
Schools employ educational technology to comply with pressures for greater accountability and efficiency in conducting operations. Specifically, schools use "management information systems" designed to automate data collection of student attendance, grades, test scores, and so on. These management information systems (MIS) employed widespread use of technology to enable effective and efficient school operations in order to promote school accountability. In this case study, the authors...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Attendance, Management Information Systems, Educational Technology, Accountability,...
The requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) have presented special challenges and opportunities for rural schools (Reeves, 2003). Researchers have suggested that one way rural schools may be able to overcome these challenges is through an increase in the level of technology integration in their school (Collins & Dewees, 2001). This case study reports on one school's attempt to use grant resources funded through NCLB to integrate specific instructional technologies to...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Rural Schools, School Culture, Federal Legislation, Technology Integration,...
Student teaching is a challenging period for preservice teachers as they make the transition from preparation to practice. Support from mentor teachers and university personnel can make this time easier, helping preservice teachers successfully integrate educational theory into their practice. Because of logistical, financial, and personnel limitations, many student teachers with rural placements receive inadequate support. The Technology Supported Induction Network (TSIN) was developed to...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Student Teaching, Student Teachers, Rural Schools, Mentors, College School...
The co-authors have been co-Principal Investigators on two large-scale National Science Foundation-funded teacher enhancement projects for the past eight years. One of the projects focused on middle and high schools and the second focused on the elementary school. The design of each was different, reflecting the differing natures of the educational programs at each level, but the importance of including technology education was common to both. In both projects, instructional strategies...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Strategies, Educational Technology, Technology Education, Integrated...
Over the past two decades, the technology "revolution" has evolved to touch nearly every aspect of the people's lives. More than just a convenience, this force has become a necessity throughout business, government, and education. One of the most invasive forces of technology is the way in which it plays a role in the types of instructional constructs, or lessons, that are used in schools, especially in social studies classrooms. The difference in how technology is applied in social...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Social Behavior, Educational Technology, Social Studies, Democratic Values, Student...