Technology in Education

Critical Issues: Technology in Education

Supporting Materials

Quick Key 5 - Understanding the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001: English Proficiency helps educators in schools and districts understand the basics of what NCLB means for their English proficiency programs.
A Bibliography of Research and Resources on Technology and Engaged Learning
compiled by NCREL's Resource Center.
Sustaining Educational Technology: Funding Challenges and Opportunities for Policymakers
To the Point provides short essays and resources for overcoming common obstacles to technology integration.
Taking Stock: What Does the Research Say About Technology's Impact on Education? provides interviews that address educational technology issues, views from supportors and critics, and resources for learning more about the research.
Universal Service Funding (E-Rate) information is available on the Schools and Libraries Web Site with details about how schools can take advantage of the Telecommunications Act.
The Learning With Technology Profile Tool is a computer program intended to help educators think carefully about their practice in the areas of engaged learning and technology. The program presents indicators of engaged learning and indicators of technology. For each indicator there are three choices that educators can compare to their own practice. When finished, educators can view the results in a graphical format to help identify their strengths and weaknesses. The Learning With Technology Profile Tool is available as a downloadable computer program or on the World Wide Web.
Learning With Technology Course Resources, from the Learning With Technology Participant's Manual and Facilitator's Guide, are integral parts of the LWT course. A number of these may be useful when incorporated strategically in the design of professional development programs that focus on student learning.
Plugging In: Choosing and Using Educational Technology. This EdTalk publication describes how to make the best use of technology. The only real measure of the effectiveness of technologies and technology-enhanced educational programs is the extent to which they promote and support students' engaged learning and collaboration.
Learning Through Technology: A Planning and Implementation Guide helps educators and community members work through the stages needed to develop a comprehensive learning and technology plan. Learning Through Technology was created through a partnership between the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the North Central Educational Laboratory (NCREL) and the Midwest Mathematics and Science Consortium (MSC) located at NCREL. The efforts of 15 ISBE Technology Demonstration sites are highlighted.
Building the 21st Century School helps schools develop a comprehensive technology plan and provides detailed information on design, wiring, equipment, and physical infrastructure modifications necessary for implementing technology within a school.
The Captured Wisdom CD-ROM Library presents teachers who are making meaningful and creative uses of technology in their instruction.

Additional Resources

Internet Links
Although NCREL takes care in selecting other Internet sites to which it links or points, such selection does not imply endorsement by NCREL, its partners, or funding agents.
- Using Technology to Support Education Reform
  Full text of 1993 report published by the U.S. Department of Education discusses types of educational technologies, support for student learning activities and teacher functions, the effect of technology on student achievement, and implementation strategies.
- Apple Education
  Apple products, events, a description of Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow, and results of research on the effect of technology on teaching and learning.
- Global SchoolNet Foundation Home Page
  Home page of nonprofit organization concerned with instructional aspects of telecommunications.
- Cisco Educational Archive and Resources Catalog
  Cisco Systems, Inc.'s products; Viritual Schoolhouse of links to schools with Internet sites; On the Horizon, the environmental scanning newsletter; and description of the Global Schoolhouse Project.
- "The Electronic School" magazine on technology
  Full-text articles from a sample issue of this National School Boards Association journal.
- Engines for Education
  An online "book" devoted to creating exciting learning environments where children learn by doing, especially through the use of technology.
- Resources for Creating Web Sites
  Help with HTML, Java, and Web page design.
- National Center for Technology Planning
  Full-text of state, district, and school technology plans and full-text articles on developing plans and fostering use of technology.
- The Technology Coordinator's Web Site
  Professional development resource for technology coordinators.
- Technology Coordinator Resources
  Links to educational technology resources.
- OAK Software Repository
  Repository of MS-DOS and Windows applications and utilities.
- Plugged In Home Page
  A non-profit group dedicated to bringing the educational opportunities created by new technologies to children and families from low-income communities.
- National Computational Science Alliance
  Offers high-performance computing and communications resources, serving over 6000 users at more than 380 universities and corporations.
- Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center
  The Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center Web site provides information about their projects, including educational efforts.
- Cornell Theory Center Home Page
  Supercomputing center offers a variety of information, including educational programs appropriate for elementary and secondary level science education.

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